verb

rebut

rih-BUT/rɪˈbʌt/

Counter a claim or argument with evidence or reasoning.

The man rebuts the claim by pointing to contradictory photographs of the damaged wheel.

At a simple discussion table, a young man counters a young woman's claim by pointing out contradictory evidence in two photographs of the same damaged bicycle wheel, while she listens and examines the evidence.

Etymology

The original image is pushing or thrusting back, once used of repelling an attack. In argument, the thing pushed back is a claim, countered with evidence or reasoning.

In context

David Pakman Show26:24

you can rebut the lies being told about you supposedly by testifying

They're coming for birth control next, another Trump lawyer arrested 5/22/24 TDPS Podcast

More examples

She rebutted the accusation by showing her receipts.
His essay rebuts the argument that longer hours always improve productivity.
Simply denying a claim does not rebut it.

Forms

rebut · rebuts · rebutted · rebutting

rebuttal noun — An argument offered to counter a claim.

Similar words

refute: Emphasizes proving a claim false, not merely arguing against it.
counter: Opposes a claim or action, not necessarily with evidence.
dispute: Challenges a claim's truth without necessarily presenting a counterargument.