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Refute vs Confute - What's the difference?

refute | confute |

As verbs the difference between refute and confute

is that refute is to prove (something) to be false or incorrect while confute is to show (something or someone) to be false or wrong; to disprove or refute.

refute

English

Verb

(refut)
  • To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.
  • *
  • To deny the truth or correctness of (something).
  • *

    • Usage notes

    The second meaning of (refute) (to deny the truth of) is proscribed as erroneous by some (compare Merriam Webster,1994). An alternative term with such a meaning is (repudiate), which means to reject or refuse to acknowledge, but without the implication of justification. However, this distinction does not exist in the original Latin , which can apply to both senses.

    Synonyms

    * : debunk, disprove, rebut * (deny the truth or correctness): deny, gainsay, rebut, reject, repudiate

    Antonyms

    * : demonstrate, prove * (deny the truth or correctness): accept, embrace

    Related terms

    * refutability * refutable * refutably * refutal * refutation * refuted * refuter

    confute

    English

    Verb

    (confut)
  • To show (something or someone) to be false or wrong; to disprove or refute.
  • * 1593 , (Henry Peacham), The Garden of Eloquence :
    • Procatalepsis is a forme of speech by which the Orator perceiving aforehand what might be objected against him, and hurt him, doth confute it before it be spoken .
  • * 1644 , (John Milton), Aeropagitica :
    • bad books [...] to a discreet and judicious Reader serve in many respects to discover, to confute , to forewarn, and to illustrate.