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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Refute \Re*fute"\ (r?*F3t"), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Refuted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Refuting}.] [F. r['e]futer, L. refuteare to repel, refute. Cf. {Confute}, {Refuse} to deny.] To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence, or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; as, to refute arguments; to refute testimony; to refute opinions or theories; to refute a disputant.
There were so many witnesses in these two miracles that it is impossible to refute such multitudes. --Addison.
Syn: To confute; disprove. See {Confute}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
refute
verb
1: overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; "The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments" [syn: {rebut}]
2: prove to be false or incorrect [syn: {rebut}, {controvert}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
94 Moby Thesaurus words for "refute": abjure, advocate, allege in support, answer, answer conclusively, argue down, argue for, assert, assert the contrary, belie, break, champion, confound, confute, contend for, contest, contradict, contravene, controvert, counter, countercharge, counterclaim, cross, crush, defeat, defend, demolish, deny, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, dismiss, disown, dispose of, disprove, dispute, espouse, evert, finish, floor, forswear, gainsay, impugn, join issue upon, maintain, make a plea, make a rebuttal, nonplus, not accept, not admit, nullify, oppose, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, parry, plead for, put to silence, rebut, recant, reduce to silence, refuse to admit, rejoin, renounce, reply, repudiate, respond, retract, revoke, riposte, say in defense, settle, shut up, silence, smash all opposition, speak for, speak up for, squash, squelch, stand up for, stick up for, subvert, support, surrebut, surrejoin, sustain, take back, take issue with, undermine, uphold, upset, urge reasons for
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