Refutar

Refutar is a Spanish verb of the first conjugation (ar) that means to demonstrate that an assertion or proposition is false or incorrect, or to contradict it through arguments and evidence. It is used in academic, scientific, legal, and public debate contexts to dispute theses, theories, claims, or conclusions.

In logic and rhetoric, refuting a statement involves examining its premises, exposing contradictions, and presenting data or reasoning that undermines the proposed result. Although it is sometimes used broadly as denying something, its technical use typically requires a reasoned and verifiable argument supported by evidence.

Etymology: the verb originates from Latin refutare, and has been incorporated into Spanish with its current sense of disproving or countering.

Conjugation: refutar is a regular -ar verb. Examples in the present: yo refuto, tú refutas, él refuta, nosotros refutamos, vosotros refutáis, ellos refutan. Pretérito perfecto simple: refuté, refutaste, refutó, refutamos, refutasteis, refutaron. Imperfecto: refutaba, refutabas, refutaba, refutábamos, refutabais, refutaban.

Noun forms and related terms: la refutación (the act or result of refuting), refutarate is commonly followed by a direct object such as “una afirmación,” “una hipótesis,” or “un argumento.” Sinónimos: contradecir, rebatir, negar (en ciertos usos); desmontar. Antónimos: confirmar, sostener, afirmar. Refutar se distingue de negar en que suele implicar un análisis justificable y la presentación de evidencia para cuestionar una afirmación.