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third-person singular simple present refutes, present participle refuting, simple past and past participle refuted
(transitive) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect. quotations examples
After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus."
1791, James Boswell, The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.
(transitive, proscribed) To deny the truth or correctness of (something). examples