controvert

American  

[kon-truh-vurt, kon-truh-vurt] / ˈkɒn trəˌvɜrt, ˌkɒn trəˈvɜrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to argue against; dispute; deny; oppose.

   Synonyms:

   rebut, refute

2. to argue about; debate; discuss.

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controvert British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːt, ˈkɒntrəˌvɜːt /

verb

1. to deny, refute, or oppose (some argument or opinion)

2. to argue or wrangle about

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Other Word Forms

• controverter noun
• controvertible adjective
• controvertibly adverb
• controvertist noun
• uncontroverted adjective
• uncontrovertedly adverb
• uncontrovertible adjective
• uncontrovertibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of controvert

First recorded in 1600–10; alteration of earlier controverse (from Latin contrōversus; controversy ) with -vert as in advert ¹, convert ¹

Example Sentences

“I shall have to controvert one or two ideas that are almost universally accepted. We have all been taught that there is no difference between time and any of the three dimensions of space —”

From Nature • Jun. 16, 2020

No. Do they offer evidence to controvert Sheeran’s confession or acknowledge that they have read the book for themselves, especially the Epilogue from 2005 and the Conclusion from 2016 that offer corroboration of Sheeran’s confessions?

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2019

But the surface elements of her life seem to controvert her need for extreme rest and relaxation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2018

I was not able, for instance, to controvert some of the more specific arguments of Pat Buchanan.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2013

Such is the youth of genius, before the soul has given that sign of itself which an unbelieving generation cannot controvert.

From Life Without and Life Within or, Reviews, Narratives, Essays, and poems. by Fuller, Margaret