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Glite Dictionary
to disprove

to disprove

66 4.5
To show that an idea or claim is not true
  • verb
  • /dɪsˈpruːv/
translation icon : refutar
  • Similarly, the absence of a difference would not disprove charges of discrimination.
  • prove or disprove
  • disprove a theory
  • disprove a claim

That doesn't disprove the reality of expertise.

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Examples

  • The scientist presented her findings to disprove the long-held theory about gravity.

  • Did you find evidence to to prove or disprove that theory?

    Julian Dorey

  • Indeed, it is not at all clear that it is possible to disprove them.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Do you think your work could prove or disprove the existence of religious experiences?

  • Well, I can try and disprove the opposite.

    Proof (2005)

  • How do you disprove the existence of Zeus?

  • But to call your paper successful when experiments disprove that theory is really the wrong attitude.

    Shawn Ryan Show

  • Empirical research, however, appears to disprove the idea that securities activities are highly risky for banks.

    Academic text (1998)

  • There have been no archaeological excavations to prove or disprove this theory.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The idea that equal opportunity in a given setting will end sexism has been disproved.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

to contradict
vsto disprove
174 3.7

To say that something is not true or the opposite of what someone says

shows not true but can be just stating opposition without evidence
to refute
vsto disprove
  • Formal
88 6.2

To show that an idea or statement is false using evidence

is the general act of showing untruth, not limited to reasoning methods
to debunk
vsto disprove
57 5.7

To show that an idea or claim is false with clear facts

aims to show untruth but focuses more on exposing pretension than proof
to rebut
vsto disprove
21 7.0

To say or show that a claim is wrong

is the act of showing falseness, not only arguing against it
to falsify
vsto disprove
12 7.2

To show that an idea or claim is not true

shows that a claim is not true but may not require conclusive proof
to disconfirm
vsto disprove
1 7.4

To show by facts that an idea or belief is not true

shows something not true or unsupported rather than proving it false
to confute
vsto disprove
  • Formal
9.9

To show a person's idea is wrong using facts or clear arguments

covers showing falsity broadly beyond argument-based rebuttal

Antonyms

to prove
∞ 3.1

To show that something is true by giving facts or reasons

How Conclusive

to disprove
66 4.5
to discredit
66 6.3
to challenge
  • Formal
552 4.3
to cast doubt
17 4.6
to question
777 3.5

Surface Forms

disprove infinitive
disproving present participle
disproves third person singular
disproved past
disproved past participle

Morphology

disprove = prove (transparent) = dis + prove

The meaning is a standard and readily inferable negating/reversing prefixation from 'prove': to show that something is not true.

Etymology

Disprove is made from the prefix dis- meaning 'not' and the common word prove meaning 'to show that something is true'. So to disprove something is to show that it is 'not true'.