disprove

/ˌdɪsˈpruːv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪsˈpruːv/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)dis-ˈprüv/ (ame, mw)

disprove — verb

  • disprovepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • disproveshe / she / it
  • disprovedpast simple
  • disproving-ing form
  • disprovenpast participle

1. to demonstrate through verifiable evidence or logical reasoning that a statement

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to demonstrate through verifiable evidence or logical reasoning that a statement, hypothesis, or commonly accepted opinion is incorrect.

例句

Mei-Lin disproved the rumour by showing everyone the official email from the principal.

common collocation: disprove + rumour / claim

New DNA tests disproved the prosecution's claim that the suspect was at the crime scene.

passive pattern: disproved by evidence

同義詞
  • refute

    More formal; typical in academic writing and structured debates. 'Refute' carries a stronger sense of defeating an argument point by point rather than just showing falseness.

  • rebut

    Most common in legal and debate settings; suggests answering a specific accusation or point rather than proving an entire theory false.

  • debunk

    Less formal than 'disprove'; often used for exposing popular myths, misconceptions, or widely believed falsehoods in a colourful or accessible way.

反義詞
  • prove

    Direct opposite — to demonstrate that something is true using evidence or reasoning.

  • confirm

    To show that a suspicion or belief is correct; differs from 'prove' in that it often strengthens existing evidence rather than establishing truth from scratch.

文法句型

disprove + noun phrase

be disproved by + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often found in formal, academic, legal, and journalistic writing. The object is usually an idea, claim, theory, rumour, or assumption — never a person. To 'disprove' always requires factual or logical evidence, not just a difference of opinion.

常見錯誤

❌I disproved him because his idea was silly.
✅I disproved his argument with data from the latest experiment.
💡'disprove' targets claims and beliefs, not people, and must be backed by evidence.
❌The lawyer disproved about the witness's story.
✅The lawyer disproved the witness's story with phone records.
💡'disprove' is transitive and must take a direct object.