rebuttal

USAGE SUMMARY

'rebuttal' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a response that is intended to refute or contradict an argument. For example, "My friend tried to convince me that I was wrong, but I quickly presented a rebuttal and explained why I thought otherwise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This might not be a problem if it were a drug for TB, malaria or AIDS – but critics of the HPV donation asked why cervical cancer received such a comprehensive effort in Rwanda – reaching 95% for 11-year-old girls when disease incidence lags well behind other vaccine-preventable diseases in the developing world (read the Rwandan health minister's persuasive rebuttal).

The Guardian

In its rebuttal, Barclays said: "Fundamentally, the complaint fails to identify any fraud – establishing no material misstatements, no identified victims, and no actual harm".

The Guardian - Business

There was no rebuttal pointing out the decent levels of growth before George Osborne choked off the recovery Even the entirely false statement that Gordon Brown had sold off the Britain's gold reserves at knock-down prices to fund public spending went unchallenged, sacrificed to the strategy of fighting the 2015 election, not the 2010 one all over again.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a lengthy rebuttal, Dannatt said he had made it clear to the undercover reporters that "I would need to meet the manufacturer and verify for myself whether the product was viable.

The Guardian

"All these false claims and smears were dealt with in our 37 page rebuttal document yesterday.

The Guardian

So Biden's already up on Obama's rebuttal for the entire debate last week.

The Guardian

In response to your article (Shell tried to alter museum climate show, 1 June), I wish to endorse the rebuttal posted by Ian Blatchford, the current Science Museum director.

The Guardian

In an aggressive rebuttal of the criticism heaped on his comments in some quarters, Erdogan suggested that the purported discovery of the Americas by Muslims should be taught in schools.

The Guardian

This was apparently a rebuttal to Alireza Zakani, a fundamentalist member of parliament from Tehran, who had warned the assembly of "a possibly tacit crossing of the red line that will undoubtedly lead to a defeat for Iran's national rights and a serious setback for our many nuclear achievements thus far".

The Guardian

Rebuttal campaigns are frequently employed: "exhausting, but crucial," says Westbourne.

The Guardian

The agency has prepared a furious point-by-point rebuttal, but it would do well to take the bulk of this broadside on the chin.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "rebuttal", ensure it is well-supported with evidence and logical reasoning to effectively counter the original argument.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on emotional appeals when crafting a "rebuttal". Back up your claims with facts and data to make your argument more persuasive and credible.

Linguistic Context

Rebuttal" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the act of refuting something or a statement designed to negate opposing arguments. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. It is used to present a counter-argument, a refutation, or a defense against a claim.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "rebuttal" is a common noun used to describe the act of refuting an argument or a statement made to counter opposing views. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and frequently used. It's prevalent in news and media, formal business contexts, and science. When writing a "rebuttal", it's crucial to provide evidence-based arguments rather than relying solely on emotional appeals. Alternative phrases include "refutation" and "counter-argument". Remember that while all rebuttals are responses, not all responses serve as rebuttals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refutation

Focuses on disproving an argument through evidence or logical reasoning, emphasizing the act of proving something wrong.

counter-argument

Presents an opposing viewpoint or argument to challenge the original claim.

counterstatement

Directly opposes or negates a previous statement, offering an alternative assertion.

disproof

Conclusively demonstrates the falsity of a statement or argument.

response

Offers a general reply or reaction to a statement, which may or may not directly contradict the original point.

rejoinder

A formal reply to a response, often in legal or academic settings.

defense

Provides justification or support for a position, often in response to criticism or attack.

riposte

A swift and clever reply, similar to retort, but often used in more formal contexts.

retort

A sharp, often witty, reply intended to deflect or counter an accusation or argument.

comeback

An informal term for a quick and clever reply, often used in a debate or argument.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "rebuttal" in a sentence?

Use "rebuttal" to introduce a counter-argument or response that directly challenges a previous claim. For example, "The senator offered a strong "rebuttal" to the accusations made against him."

What are some alternatives to the word "rebuttal"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "refutation", "counter-argument", or "response".

Is there a difference between a "rebuttal" and a "response"?

While a "response" is a general reply, a "rebuttal" specifically aims to disprove or counter an argument. A "rebuttal" is a type of response, but not all responses are rebuttals.

When is it appropriate to use a "rebuttal" in a formal setting?

A "rebuttal" is appropriate in formal settings such as debates, legal proceedings, or academic discussions where you need to formally challenge or refute an opposing argument.