refutation

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) An act of refuting or disproving; the disproving of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine or theory by argument or countervailing proof; evidence of falseness.
2. (countable, proscribed, uncountable) A vocal answer to an attack on one's assertions.

Synonyms

rebuttal

confutation

disproof

denial

falsification

objection

rejection

refutal

contradiction

repeal

response

retort

defence

falsifying

pleading

protest

defense

opposition

override

overthrow

overturn

playback

reaction

rebut

recantation

recission

refusal

refute

reject

rejoinder

replica

reply

reprisal

repudiation

repulsion

reversal

reversion

revocation

abolishment

space inversion

abrogation

annulment

answer

comeback

conversion

counterattack

counterplea

crackdown

cue

decline

Translations

Widerlegung

réfutation

weerlegging

confutazione

refutação

smentita

Widerspruch

αναίρεση

refutación

yalanlama

tekzip

Einspruch

dupliek

défense

ontzenuwing

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French refutation (compare French réfutation, Spanish refutación, Portuguese refutação, Italian refutazione) or its etymon Latin refūtātiō, from refūtō + -ātiō. By surface analysis, refute + -ation. First attested in 1536 (in sense 1).