rebut

/rɪˈbʌt/

Other forms: rebutted; rebutting; rebuts

To rebut is to argue against something. If your parents say you're too young and irresponsible to drive, you can rebut their claim by ticking off examples of your responsibility.

When you argue against something, you rebut that position or argument. Your school's principal might rebut your teacher's argument that the class is overcrowded by pointing out that there could legally be five more kids in the class. The teacher could rebut the principal's rebuttal by observing that there aren't enough books or seats for the kids in the classroom now. Rebut comes from an old French word rebuter, meaning "to thrust back."

Definitions of rebut

1. verb

   overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
   synonyms: confound, refute

   types:

   contradict, controvert, oppose

   be resistant to

   answer

   give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)

   blackball, negative, veto

   vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent

   dissent, protest, resist

   express opposition through action or words

   type of:

   disown, renounce, repudiate

   cast off
2. verb

   prove to be false or incorrect
   synonyms: controvert, refute

   type of:

   confute, disprove

   prove to be false