| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prove false |
| Synonyms: | belie, blow sky high, blow up, break, confound, confute, contradict, contravene, controvert, deny, disconfirm, discredit, explode, expose, find unfounded, impugn, invalidate, knock bottom out of, knock props out, negate, negative, overthrow, overturn, poke holes in, puncture, rebut, refute, set aside, shoot, shoot holes in, tear down, throw out, traverse, weaken |
| Antonyms: | credit, prove, validate |
| Main Entry: | break |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | weaken, cause instability |
| Synonyms: | bankrupt, bust, confound, confute, controvert, cow, cripple, declass, degrade, demerit, demoralize, demote, disconfirm, dispirit, disprove, downgrade, enervate, enfeeble, humiliate, impair, impoverish, incapacitate, pauperize, rebut, reduce, refute, ruin, subdue, tame, undermine |
| Notes: | to brake is to slow or stop while break is to cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently, smash or crack |
| Antonyms: | stabilize, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | confute |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | disprove, refute |
| Synonyms: | blow sky high, break, bring to naught, confound, contradict, controvert, defeat, demolish, dismay, disprove, expose, invalidate, knocks props out from under, negate, oppugn, overcome, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, parry, prove false, prove wrong, put down, rebut, set aside, shut up, silence, subvert, tap, upset, vanquish |
| Notes: | refute means 'to show conclusively to be false or illogical' and applies primarily to assertions or arguments; confute means 'to prove wrong' and applies primarily to the person or agency making the assertion or argument |
| Antonyms: | affirm, attest, confirm, endorse, prove, verify |
| Main Entry: | contradict |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | be at variance with |
| Synonyms: | belie, buck, call in question, challenge, confront, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, cross, dare, deny, differ, disaffirm, disclaim, disprove, dispute, fly in the face of, gainsay, have bone to pick, impugn, negate, negative, oppose, refuse to accept, repudiate, take on, thumbs down, traverse |
| Antonyms: | OK, accept, agree, approve, concede, confirm, corroborate, reconcile, sign, verify, vouch |
| Main Entry: | controvert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | oppose, argue |
| Synonyms: | break, challenge, confound, confute, contest, contradict, counter, debate, deny, disconfirm, discuss, disprove, dispute, oppugn, question, rebut, refute, wrangle |
| Antonyms: | agree, forbear, harmonize, make peace, restrain |
| Main Entry: | debate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | argue, discuss |
| Synonyms: | agitate, altercate, answer, bandy, bicker, bump heads, canvass, chew the fat, cogitate, confab, confute, consider, contend, contest, controvert, cross swords, deliberate, demonstrate, differ, discept, disprove, dispute, hammer away at, hash over, hassle, have at it, kick around, knock around, lock horns, moot, oppose, pettifog, pick a bone, prove, put up argument, question, reason, rebut, refute, rehash, set to, talk back, talk game, thrash out, toss around, wrangle |
| Antonyms: | agree, go along |
| Main Entry: | defeat |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | frustrate |
| Synonyms: | baffle, balk, beat down, beat the system, blank, block, bury, cast down, cause setback, checkmate, circumvent, confound, contravene, cook*, counterplot, cross, disappoint, discomfit, disconcert, disprove, edge out, foil, invalidate, neutralize, nonplus, nose out, nullify, outwit, overturn, put end to, puzzle, quell, reduce, refute, ruin, scuttle, shave, shellac, skunk, spoil, squash, stump, subdue, subjugate, surmount, take wind out of sails, throw for loop, thwart, undo, victimize |
| Notes: | decimate means to kill or destroy in large numbers; defeat means to win a victory over or to beat |
| Antonyms: | abet, aid, encourage, help, inspirit |
| Main Entry: | deny |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | disagree, renounce, decline |
| Synonyms: | abjure, abnegate, ban, begrudge, call on, contradict, contravene, controvert, curb, disacknowledge, disallow, disavow, disbelieve, discard, disclaim, discredit, disown, disprove, doubt, enjoin from, eschew, exclude, forbid, forgo, forsake, gainsay, hold back, keep back, negate, negative, not buy, nullify, oppose, rebuff, rebut, recant, refuse, refute, reject, repudiate, restrain, revoke, sacrifice, say no to, spurn, taboo, take exception to, turn down, turn thumbs down, veto, withhold |
| Notes: | deny means to declare untrue or refuse to accept or believe or to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; refute means to prove to be false, wrong, or incorrect |
| Antonyms: | accede, acknowledge, admit, affirm, agree, allow, concede, confess, corroborate, go along, grant |
| Main Entry: | discredit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | blame, detract from |
| Synonyms: | blow up, bring into disrepute, bring to naught, censure, defame, degrade, destroy, disconsider, disesteem, disfavor, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, disprove, explode, expose, frown upon, knock bottom out of, mudsling, poke full of holes, pooh-pooh, puncture, put down, reflect on, reproach, ruin, run down, shoot, show up, slander, slur, smear, take rug out from under, tear down, vilify |
| Antonyms: | commend, credit, honor, praise |