hard to refute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to refute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an argument, claim, or statement that is difficult to challenge or disprove. Example: "The evidence presented in the study was so compelling that it was hard to refute the conclusions drawn by the researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This prognosis is hard to refute.

The Economist

Their logic is hard to refute.

Harvard Business Review

The onslaught is common, and hard to refute.

The Economist

But at this point the evidence is hard to refute.

The New Yorker

It's hard to refute the findings of a two-week immersive exploratory process with customers.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is the uncanny product of a singular vision, distinctly American and hard to refute.

The New Yorker

After all, his numbers and success are pretty hard to refute.

The Washington Post

"The value of the 'old boys club' is hard to refute in our data," Fang writes.

Harvard Business Review

The logic for shorter contracts, for the immediate future, is hard to refute.

The Guardian - Music

The economic logic behind the feedlot system is hard to refute.

The New York Times - Magazine

Cameron's central arguments in favour of Turkish EU membership were hard to refute.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to refute" when you want to convey that a claim or argument is strongly supported by evidence and difficult to challenge or disprove.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to refute" when the supporting evidence is weak or based on personal opinions. Overstating the strength of an argument can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to refute" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It typically describes a claim, argument, or piece of evidence that is difficult to challenge or disprove due to its strength or supporting evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to refute" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe claims or arguments that are challenging to disprove due to strong supporting evidence. As Ludwig AI notes, it is correct and usable in written English. Its prevalence across diverse and authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist, confirms its widespread acceptance. While alternatives such as "irrefutable" or "indisputable" exist, "hard to refute" offers a nuanced way to convey the difficulty, rather than impossibility, of challenging a claim. When using the phrase, ensure that the context genuinely supports the strength of the argument to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Irrefutable

Stresses the impossibility of disproving a statement.

Difficult to disprove

Focuses on the challenge in demonstrating that something is false.

Impossible to deny

Highlights the inability to contradict the assertion.

Challenging to rebut

Highlights the effort required to argue against a claim.

Cannot be challenged

Directly states the impossibility of questioning the claim.

Indisputable

Emphasizes that the statement cannot be questioned.

Unquestionable

Indicates that the statement is beyond doubt.

Unassailable

Implies the statement is immune to attack or criticism.

Beyond contention

Suggests the statement is not subject to dispute.

Firmly established

Emphasizes the solidity and acceptance of the statement.

FAQs

What does "hard to refute" mean?

The phrase "hard to refute" means something is difficult to disprove or argue against, usually because it's supported by strong evidence or logic. It suggests that attempts to challenge the claim are unlikely to succeed.

How can I use "hard to refute" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to refute" to describe claims or arguments that are strongly supported by evidence. For example: "The scientific evidence supporting climate change is "hard to refute"."

What are some alternatives to "hard to refute"?

Some alternatives to "hard to refute" include "irrefutable", "indisputable", "difficult to disprove", or "impossible to deny".

Is it better to say "hard to refute" or "difficult to refute"?

"Hard to refute" and "difficult to refute" are largely interchangeable, but "hard to refute" may sound slightly more emphatic. The choice depends on the specific context and the desired tone.