to prove or disprove
1disprove — [[t]dɪspru͟ːv[/t]] disproves, disproving, disproved, disproven VERB To disprove an idea, belief, or theory means to show that it is not true. [V n] The statistics to prove or disprove his hypothesis will take years to collect. Syn: refute …
2disprove — disprove, refute, confute, rebut, controvert mean to show or attempt to show by argument that a statement, a claim, a proposition, or a charge is not true. Disprove stresses the success of an argument in showing the falsity, erroneousness, or… …
3Disprove — Dis*prove , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Disproved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Disproving}.] [Pref. dis + prove: cf. OF. desprover.] 1. To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute. [1913 Webster] That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove …
4disprove — I verb belie, confute, contravene, controvert, counteract, countervail, deny, discredit, dispel, find unfounded, invalidate, negate, nullify, oppugn, prove false, prove the contrary, prove to be wrong, prove to the contrary, rebut, redarguere,… …
5disprove — [dis pro͞ov′, dis′pro͞ov′; dis′pro͞ov΄] vt. disproved, disproved or disproven, disproving [ME disproven < OFr desprover: see DIS & PROVE] to prove to be false or in error; refute; confute disprovable adj. SYN. DISPROVE implies the presenting… …
6prove — 1 Prove, try, test, demonstrate are comparable when they mean to establish a given or an implied contention or reach a convincing conclusion by such appropriate means as evidence, argument, or experiment. The same distinctions in implications and …
7disprove — late 14c., from O.Fr. desprover refute, contradict, from des (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + prover (see PROVE (Cf. prove)). Related: Disproved; disproving …
8disprove — [v] prove false belie, blow sky high*, blow up*, break, confound, confute, contradict, contravene, controvert, deny, disconfirm, discredit, explode, expose, find unfounded, impugn, invalidate, knock bottom out of*, knock props out*, negate,… …
9disprove — ► VERB ▪ prove to be false. DERIVATIVES disprovable adjective …
10prove false — index disprove, rebut, refute Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …