confute
Demolish an argument
To confute is to prove someone or something wrong, especially through argument or evidence.
The word is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, appearing mainly in academic or literary contexts: The new findings confute the earlier hypothesis.
Unlike refute, which now often means simply to deny, confute retains its stronger sense of decisively disproving.
Disprove by argument
- debunkExpose as false
- falsifyDistort the truth
- invalidateMake null or void
- contradictDispute a statement
negate · discredit · overturn · demolish · expose · puncture · deflate · unmask
Formal argumentative exchange
- polemicAggressive argumentative discourse
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- counterargumentPoint challenging another's position
contention · opposition · challenge · rebuttal · critique · demurral · contradiction · dialectic
Error in reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
validity · proposition · soundness · cogency · sophistry · non-sequitur · contradiction · reductio
Error in reasoning
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- misbeliefFalse notion held true
delusion · myth · misinterpretation · distortion · fabrication · canard · misinformation · sophism
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
apologia · disputation · interlocutor · dialectic · cross-examination · Socratic · polemicist · adversarial
rebut
Disprove by argument
- debunkExpose as false
- falsifyDistort the truth
- invalidateMake null or void
contradict · negate · discredit · overturn · demolish · expose · puncture · deflate · unmask · quash
disputation
Formal argumentative exchange
- polemicAggressive argumentative discourse
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
counterargument · contention · opposition · challenge · rebuttal · critique · demurral · contradiction · dialectic · rejoinder
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
premise · validity · proposition · soundness · cogency · sophistry · non-sequitur · contradiction · reductio · deduction
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
misbelief · delusion · myth · misinterpretation · distortion · fabrication · canard · misinformation · sophism · heresy
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
forensics · apologia · disputation · interlocutor · dialectic · cross-examination · Socratic · polemicist · adversarial
confuteprove
Establish as fact
demonstrate · establish · substantiate · validate · verify