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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | detract |
| Synonyms: | bad-mouth, blister, criticize, cut down to size, cut to the quick, decry, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, diminish, discount, discredit, disparage, dispraise, downgrade, downplay, dump on, knock*, lower, minimize, pan, pooh pooh, poor mouth, put down, rip*, roast, run down, scoff at, scorch*, scorn, shoot down, shoot full of holes, slam*, smear, sneer at, sour grapes, squash, squelch, take a swipe at, take down, take down a peg, tear down, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, write off |
| Antonyms: | build up, exaggerate, praise, value |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | invalidate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | render null and void |
| Synonyms: | X-out, abate, abolish, abrogate, annihilate, annul, blow sky-high, cancel, circumduct, counteract, counterbalance, disannul, discredit, disqualify, impair, negate, negative, neutralize, nix, nullify, offset, overrule, overthrow, quash, refute, revoke, shoot full of holes, undermine, undo, unfit, weaken |
| Antonyms: | approve, permit, validate |
| Main Entry: | perforate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make a hole in |
| Synonyms: | bore, drill, drive, hole, honeycomb, penetrate, permeate, pierce, pit, poke full of holes, probe, punch, puncture, shoot full of holes, slit, stab |
| Antonyms: | close up |
| Main Entry: | puncture |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deflate someone's idea, feelings |
| Synonyms: | blow sky high, discourage, discredit, disillusion, disprove, explode, flatten, humble, knock bottom out, knock props from under, poke full of holes, shoot full of holes, take down a peg, take wind out of sails |
| Antonyms: | build up |
| Main Entry: | refute |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prove false; discredit |
| Synonyms: | abnegate, argue against, blow sky high, break, burn, burn down, cancel, cancel out, confute, contend, contradict, contravene, convict, counter, crush, debate, demolish, disclaim, disconfirm, dispose of, disprove, dispute, evert, explode, expose, gainsay, give the lie to, give thumbs down to, invalidate, negate, oppose, overthrow, parry, quash, rebut, reply to, repudiate, shoot down, shoot full of holes, show up, silence, squelch, take a stand against, tear down, top* |
| 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 to rebut a statement is to offer clear evidence or a reasoned argument against it; to refute a statement is to prove it wrong (neither means 'contradict' or 'deny') 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: | endorse, prove, ratify, sanction, support |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
