confute

[ kuhn-fyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, con·fut·ed, con·fut·ing.

1. to prove to be false, invalid, or defective; disprove:

   to confute an argument.

2. to prove (a person) to be wrong by argument or proof:

   to confute one's opponent.

3. Obsolete. to bring to naught; confound.

confute

/ ˌkɒnfjʊˈteɪʃən; kənˈfjuːt /

verb

1. to prove (a person or thing) wrong, invalid, or mistaken; disprove
2. obsolete.
   to put an end to

Derived Forms

• conˈfuter, noun
• conˈfutative, adjective
• conˈfutable, adjective
• confutation, noun

Other Words From

• con·futa·ble adjective
• con·futer noun
• uncon·futa·ble adjective
• uncon·futed adjective
• uncon·futing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confute¹

1520–30; < Latin confūtāre to abash, silence, refute, equivalent to con- con- + -fūtāre; refute

Word History and Origins

Origin of confute¹

C16: from Latin confūtāre to check, silence

Example Sentences

In his foreword, he paraphrases Bacon in urging the public to read the book – “not to contradict and confute… but to weigh and consider”.

From The Guardian

Accordingly, I perus’d the ſame, but was ſo far from being convinc’d of my having before entertain’d falſe Notions of the Matter, that I found myſelf oblig’d to Confute these Aſſertions in print.

From Slate

It seems strange, Raymond, that a man of Dr. Hanson's eminence should write, and the Religious Tract Society should publish, a statement so misleading,--a statement which a boy of Carol's years could easily confute.

From Project Gutenberg

They were able to judge how far Mr. Brown was worthy of credit; and they had the advantage of having witnessed his demeanour at the public meeting, when he asserted that he had walked and talked with Robertson, at a time he could not possibly know if he was telling a lie, that the man would not sooner or later return to confute him.

From Project Gutenberg

When the legate desired to confute two heresiarchs, Raymond de Baimiac and Bernard Raymond, the Catharan bishops of Val d’Aran and Toulouse, he was obliged to give them a safe-conduct before they would present themselves before him, and to content himself afterwards with excommunicating them; and when proceedings were had against the powerful Roger Trencavel, Viscount of B�ziers, for keeping the Bishop of Albi in prison, excommunication was likewise the only penalty, nor do we read that the captured prelate was liberated.

From Project Gutenberg