controverting
Challenging a claim
Controverting is disputing or arguing against something—challenging a claim, assertion, or position.
The word appears most often in legal and formal contexts: The defense spent hours controverting the prosecution's evidence.
To controvert is to engage in controversy, though the verb is less common than its noun form.
Showing to be false
- invalidatingMaking something null
- negatingNullifying or invalidating
- debunkingProving claims false
- discreditingDamaging another's reputation
rebutting · contradicting · undermining · countering · falsifying · impugning · repudiating · gainsaying
Arguing over validity
- rebuttingDisproving another's argument
- refutingDisproving a claim
- challengingHard to accomplish
- debatingFormal argumentative discourse
contesting · opposing · disagreeing · questioning · objecting · dissenting · counterarguing · demurring
Refusing to accept
- disavowingRefusing to claim
- disclaimingDenying connection or responsibility
- repudiatingFormally refusing to acknowledge
- disbelievingRefusing to accept something
dismissing · rebuffing · declining · vetoing · disallowing · abnegating · recanting · renouncing
Actively opposing pressure
- counteractingOpposing to neutralize
- defyingActively refusing obedience
- contraveningViolating a law
- obstructingBlocking forward movement
protesting · combating · fighting · thwarting · blocking · pushing back · going against · bucking
disproving
Showing to be false
- invalidatingMaking something null
- negatingNullifying or invalidating
- debunkingProving claims false
discrediting · rebutting · contradicting · undermining · countering · falsifying · impugning · repudiating · gainsaying · puncturing
disputing
Arguing over validity
- rebuttingDisproving another's argument
- refutingDisproving a claim
- challengingHard to accomplish
debating · contesting · opposing · disagreeing · questioning · objecting · dissenting · counterarguing · demurring · quarreling
rejecting
Refusing to accept
- disavowingRefusing to claim
- disclaimingDenying connection or responsibility
- repudiatingFormally refusing to acknowledge
disbelieving · dismissing · rebuffing · declining · vetoing · disallowing · abnegating · recanting · renouncing · disowning
resisting
Actively opposing pressure
- counteractingOpposing to neutralize
- defyingActively refusing obedience
- contraveningViolating a law
obstructing · protesting · combating · fighting · thwarting · blocking · pushing back · going against · bucking · crossing
controvertingagreeing
Sharing the same view
accepting · concurring · affirming · assenting · acknowledging
controvertingsupporting
Bearing or sustaining
confirming · corroborating · substantiating · validating · verifying