refute, rebut, or rebuff?
The core meaning of refute is "to prove incorrect," though a more general sense "to deny" has developed and is now widely established. It is completely acceptable to use refute and rebut interchangeably in the sense "to contradict or deny the truth of something," as in a spokesperson who refuted/rebutted all allegations of impropriety. Nonetheless, if you want to emphasize the idea of proving wrongness as opposed to mere denial or contradiction, then use refute, as in used unimpeachable facts to refute opposing counsel's allegations, and use rebut to mean "contradict," as in rebutted opposing counsel's opening statement in her closing statement. Do not confuse rebuff ("to reject, push away") with rebut (I rebuffed his unwanted advances and I rebuffed [not rebutted] his protestations).
|
Hotmail
