to rebut

Examples

• All

• How would you rebut that, Miss Booke with an "e"?

  The Great Debaters (2007)

• Naturally, you will have some questions, but I asked you here to rebut some absolutely untrue reports in the press.

  The Wicker Tree (2011)

• And you can try to rebut bad science with good science.

• And as a surprise witness, she may serve only to rebut direct testimony.

  The Verdict (1982)

• In fact, the teachers sought to rebut negative arguments.

  Academic text (2015)

• Of course, there is no better way to rebut the skeptics than to proceed to this month's feature article.

  Fiction book (2000)

• "Saying that we 'denied benefits' imputes blame on the employer," he says, "and we have to rebut that."

  Academic text (2003)

• And Nancy Mace came up later in the congressional hearing and tried to rebut some of those claims that were being made.

  Megyn Kelly

• But Obama's taking it upon himself to rebut the charge before key constituencies.

  Blog text (10)

• Bashir was quick to rebut these claims and said that the government would protect all southerners living in the north.

  Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

D

to deny

vsto rebut

∞ 2.0

To say that something is not true

goes further by actively arguing against or attempting to disprove the claim

C

to counter

vsto rebut

190 4.3

To respond by acting against something

is specifically about arguing against claims rather than acting to neutralize them

C

to contradict

vsto rebut

174 3.7

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

focuses on arguing against a claim rather than merely stating the opposite

R

to refute

vsto rebut

• Formal

88 6.2

To show that an idea or statement is false using evidence

argues against claims and may not always fully prove them false

D

to disprove

vsto rebut

66 4.5

To show that an idea or claim is not true

can be an argument against a claim without complete demonstration

D

to debunk

vsto rebut

57 5.7

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

can simply argue against a claim without exposing broader pretensions

D

to discredit

vsto rebut

16 5.6

To say that something is not true or trustworthy

actively argues against a claim and may also aim to prove it false

P

to prove otherwise

vsto rebut

15 5.2

Show that the opposite is true

instead offers an opposing argument that may not fully reverse the claim

G

to give the lie to

vsto rebut

• Formal

1 8.4

To show that something is not true

is about arguing against claims and may stop short of proof

D

to disconfirm

vsto rebut

1 7.4

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

is a direct counterargument that may not rely on missing evidence

C

to controvert

vsto rebut

• Formal

1 8.3

To say that an idea or claim is not true

is similar but can be less formal or conclusive in rejecting claims

C

to contravene

vsto rebut

1 8.3

To say that a statement is not true

is more about arguing against or disproving accusations than formal denial

C

to confute

vsto rebut

• Formal

9.9

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

focuses on opposing claims rather than only on definitive disproof

C

to counterargue

vsto rebut

6.0

To answer an argument with an opposing idea

is aimed at countering claims and may also try to disprove them

Antonyms

C

to confirm

∞ 1.8

To show that something is true by giving evidence

How Convincing

to refute

• Formal

88 6.2

to rebut

21 7.0

to challenge

• Formal

552 4.3

to deny

∞ 2.0

Surface Forms

Etymology