confute

verb

con·​fute kən-ˈfyüt How to pronounce confute (audio)
confuted; confuting
Synonyms of confutenext

transitive verb

1
: to overwhelm in argument : refute conclusively
… Elijah … confuted the prophets of Baal …—George Bernard Shaw
2
obsolete : confound
confuter noun

Synonyms of confute

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Examples of confute in a Sentence

theories which will eventually be confirmed or confuted by experience
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Vulnerable, uninformed wives have hardly been in a position to confute them. — Justin Jones, Quartz India, 15 Sep. 2019 In Tory Nation, Samuel Earle discusses and frets morosely over this success, which has confuted so many hopes and indeed confident predictions on the left. — Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin confutare to check, silence

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confute was in 1533

Rhymes for confute

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Browse Nearby Words

confutator
confute
cong
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Cite this Entry

“Confute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confute. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

confute

verb
con·​fute kən-ˈfyüt How to pronounce confute (audio)
confuted; confuting
: to overwhelm in argument : refute
confutation
ˌkän-fyu̇-ˈtā-shən
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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