disprove that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disprove that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate the act of demonstrating that a particular claim or statement is false. Example: "The scientist aimed to disprove that the theory of spontaneous generation was valid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The newly hired centimillionaires (see link below) disprove that.

Forbes

"Can you disprove that?" Nina couldn't.

The New Yorker

I think the figures disprove that".

The Guardian

Murray will try to disprove that Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

Then it's up to the prosecution to disprove that claim.

The New York Times

The old records of his stage roles disprove that charge.

The Guardian

The old records of Gielgud's stage roles disprove that charge.

The Guardian - Film

Ms. Bayón is not the one to disprove that dictum.

The New York Times - Arts

I am one of thousands of Chinese-speaking Americans who disprove that claim.

The New Yorker

She did not set out, she says, to disprove that abortion is harmful.

The New York Times - Magazine

As if to disprove that, she went on to perform an upbeat number.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disprove that" when you have evidence or reasoning to show a statement is false. Ensure your evidence is credible and relevant to the claim you are disproving.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you "disprove that" without offering supporting evidence or logical reasoning. Always provide a clear explanation or data to back up your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disprove that" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate the act of demonstrating that a particular claim or statement is false. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage is considered correct. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its application in various contexts, from scientific theories to political claims.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

36%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disprove that" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to challenge or refute claims with evidence. According to Ludwig AI, its proper use involves presenting concrete support to demonstrate the falsity of a statement. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for objective argumentation. Alternatives like "refute that" or "invalidate that" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. Remember to provide sufficient evidence when using "disprove that" to avoid making unsupported assertions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Disprove the claim

A more direct rephrasing that avoids using "that" as a pronoun.

Refute that

Emphasizes a formal denial and argument against a statement.

Rebut that

Focuses on countering an argument with evidence and reasoning.

Invalidate that

Highlights the act of making something null or without legal force.

Debunk that

Implies exposing something as false or exaggerated.

Contradict that

Focuses on asserting the opposite of a statement.

Prove it false

Shifts the focus to providing evidence of falsehood.

Show it to be untrue

Highlights demonstrating the lack of truth in a statement.

Call that into question

Focuses on raising doubts about the validity of a claim.

Challenge that assertion

Emphasizes a direct confrontation with a stated claim.

FAQs

How can I use "disprove that" in a sentence?

You can use "disprove that" to indicate that you are showing a statement to be false. For example, "The scientist aimed to disprove that the theory of spontaneous generation was valid."

What is a formal alternative to "disprove that"?

A more formal alternative to "disprove that" is to "refute that", which implies a formal denial and argument against a statement.

When is it appropriate to use "debunk that" instead of "disprove that"?

Use "debunk that" when you want to expose something as false or exaggerated. For example, "He sought to debunk that myth with solid evidence."

What's the difference between "contradict that" and "disprove that"?

Contradict that focuses on asserting the opposite of a statement, while "disprove that" involves providing evidence or reasoning to show that a statement is false.