refutative

[ ri-fyoo-tuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. tending to refute; pertaining to refutation:

   refutative evidence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of refutative¹

First recorded in 1645–55; refutat(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

Overthrowing; defeating; Ð applied to Plato's refutative dialogues.

From Project Gutenberg

I could have inserted dialogismes, displaying their interrogatory part with communicatively pysmatick and sustentative flourishes; or proleptically, with the refutative schemes of anticipation and subjection, and that part which concerns the responsory, with the figures of permission and concession.

From Project Gutenberg

In reference to the minor question of the value of the historic evidences, it is important to remember that these grand works are not simply refutative; they are indirectly instructive and didactic.

From Project Gutenberg

An attempt of this kind was intermingled with the English school of evidences of the last century; and the argument of analogy used by Butler, if viewed as constructive, and not refutative, may be considered to have for its object to prepare the mind for accepting revealed religion, by first showing the probability of it on the ground of its similarity to nature.

From Project Gutenberg