have been refuted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been refuted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing arguments, claims, or theories that have been proven false or invalid through evidence or reasoning. Example: "The claims made in the article have been refuted by several experts in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

New Relativism, as we shall see, offers a novel take on the old question of alethic relativism and gives weight to Alasdair MacIntyre's observation that relativism may have been refuted a number of times too often, whereas genuinely refutable doctrines only need to be refuted once (MacIntyre 1982: 22).

SEP

These claims have been refuted by DrugScience.

The Guardian - Opinion

How would your amend your statements now that they have been refuted?

The Guardian - Books

Monckton's opinions have been refuted by scientists, who have called his statements "very misleading" and "profoundly wrong".

The Guardian

Reports of the said meeting and alleged discussions are a complete fabrication and have been refuted by the presidency.

The Guardian

Today many of Békésy's ideas continue to be investigated and extended, some have been supported by new evidence, some have been refuted, while others remain to be tested.

Hearing Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

In recent times the idea has gained currency that Marxism has been "refuted by history".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some noted that the argument had been refuted by Darwin himself in direct response to Paley.

Britannica

Expansionary austerity has been refuted and even the IMF sayis that short-run multipliers are big.

The New York Times

Every piece of this revisionist history has been refuted in detail.

The New York Times

But when others suggested Dr. Gould had been refuted, Philip Kitcher, a philosopher of science at Columbia University, rode to his defense.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been refuted" when you want to emphasize that a claim or theory has been thoroughly disproven by evidence or argument. It is more forceful than saying something is 'questionable' or 'doubtful'.

Common error

Avoid using "have been refuted" lightly. Ensure there is substantial evidence or a well-reasoned argument to support the claim that something has been disproven. Otherwise, using weaker terms like "challenged" or "questioned" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been refuted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a claim, argument, or theory has been proven false. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and effectively conveys that something has been disproven.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been refuted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a claim or idea has been disproven through evidence or logical reasoning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use in both formal and neutral contexts, including news, scientific research, and academic discussions. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure that the refutation is well-supported; otherwise, softer terms should be considered. Related phrases include "have been disproven" and "have been debunked", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been disproven

Direct synonym, indicating definitive proof against a claim.

have been debunked

Implies exposure of falseness, often used when a claim was widely believed.

have been invalidated

Suggests a formal process has rendered something no longer valid.

have been disproved

Similar to disproven, but might suggest a less conclusive negation.

have been overturned

Implies a previous acceptance that has now been reversed.

have been negated

A more formal and abstract term for disproving.

have been nullified

Indicates something has been rendered without legal or practical effect.

have been discredited

Suggests a loss of credibility due to evidence or argument.

have been falsified

Suggests that something was deliberately altered or misrepresented, leading to its refutation.

have been contradicted

Indicates that something has been shown to be untrue by presenting opposing evidence.

FAQs

What does it mean when a claim "has been refuted"?

When a claim "has been refuted", it means that it has been proven to be false or incorrect through evidence or logical argument. This implies a thorough disproving, not just a questioning or challenging of the claim.

What can I say instead of "have been refuted"?

You can use alternatives like "have been disproven", "have been debunked", or "have been invalidated" depending on the specific context and the degree to which the claim has been disproven.

Is it accurate to say something "has been refuted" if there's still some doubt?

No, "have been refuted" suggests a conclusive disproving. If there's still doubt or ongoing debate, it's more accurate to say the claim "has been challenged", "has been questioned", or "remains unproven".

What is the difference between "have been refuted" and "have been denied"?

"Have been refuted" implies that a claim has been proven false using evidence or reasoning. "Have been denied" simply means that someone has stated that the claim is not true, without necessarily providing proof or justification.