REFUTING Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

refuting 1 of 2

adjective

as in disproving

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refuting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of refute

as in denying

to declare not to be true while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome

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as in discrediting

to prove to be false the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of refuting

Verb

While refuting any suggestion of police repression, Lecornu condemned violence on the margins of protests, which were mostly peaceful Tuesday, despite the dramatic scenes that dominated coverage. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 However, in July, Wayne released a message refuting reports of an engagement, referring to a relationship with someone in the past tense, albeit without mentioning them by name. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Following the bombshell story, the palace released a rare statement refuting Spencer’s claims. — Staff Author, InStyle, 21 Sep. 2026 Charles’ then-private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, subsequently issued a statement refuting the accusations. — Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 18 Sep. 2026 Brittany Howard, the band’s lead singer and charismatic frontwoman, has spent much of the past decade refuting that notion. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2026 So thankful to Alabama Athletics for refuting it on my behalf. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 Minneapolis’s Walker Art Center and the artist Olalekan Jeyifous are refuting accusations by some museum visitors that his work was made using generative AI, reports MPR News. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Many d This week, the department issued a follow-up statement refuting both of those claims. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuting

Adjective

There is contradictory evidence about Presnell’s intellectual capacity.

— Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
This new-wave hotel offers proof that opulence and discretion needn’t be contradictory.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of contradictory

Adjective

Ellison has taken an opposing view from his predecessors who confronted crumbling industry economics by cutting expenditures to boost their corporate bottom lines.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
This wasn't the first time an opposing player accused a Fever fan of inappropriate conduct despite the team and league finding no such evidence.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of opposing

Verb

This may involve rejecting a command, removing write access, isolating the AI, transferring control back to the operator or moving equipment into a safe state.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The sense was that the people who were rejecting the Keynesian model were throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejecting

Verb

Three previous attempts to evict the 87-year-old were denied by the courts, but in March, the Supreme Court ruled against her, overturning a January 2022 decision in her favor.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
As well as overturning the 2024 standards, the EPA is proposing to roll back its authority to regulate climate pollution from power plants.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of overturning

Verb

Additionally, bodycam video from Austin police officers who responded shows officers assisting him out of the vehicle rather than pulling him out, contradicting Goldfinch's claim.

— Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
The state of the animal in estrus is actually really contradicting, which resonated with me.

— Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of contradicting

Verb

Less than a month after astonishing the world with its solution to the long-standing Navier-Stokes problem, OpenAI has released 722 maths papers, proving or disproving problems across numerous fields from algebraic geometry to number theory.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026
Prosecution focused on affair, alleged intruder The prosecution focused its case on Flynn’s secret affair and disproving his claim that an intruder broke into their home.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of disproving

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“Refuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuting. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of refuting

adjective

verb

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