refute their predictions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refute their predictions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of disproving or countering someone's forecasts or expectations. Example: "The new data collected from the experiment serves to refute their predictions about the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A critical reappraisal of current theoretical models is needed because experimental studies both support and refute their predictions.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

How does Dr. Samuel Cohn refute their theory?

The New York Times

It is my purpose here to refute their claim.

University of California, Berkeley

How much did political scientists refute their own hypotheses?

The Washington Post

"Unfortunately, I used a few expletives to refute their spoiler assertions," Mr. Jones said.

The New York Times

Critics often found it easier to impugn the authors' motives than to refute their conclusions.

The New York Times - Books

Only occasionally did they successfully refute their opponents' points.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Although crisis hotlines are common there is little evidence to support or refute their effectiveness.

Wikipedia

Patients were asked to confirm or refute their diagnosis of COPD.

BMC Family Practice

No evidence at the trial refuted their accounts.

The New York Times

A group of younger psychologists and biologists took on the challenge of refuting their claims.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refute their predictions", ensure the context clearly indicates that there is evidence or reasoning to disprove the stated predictions. It's stronger than simply disagreeing.

Common error

Avoid using "refute their predictions" when you simply disagree with someone's forecasts. "Refute" implies presenting concrete evidence or logical arguments to disprove the predictions, not just expressing a differing opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refute their predictions" functions as a verb phrase, where "refute" is the main verb indicating the action of proving something to be false or incorrect, and "their predictions" serves as the object of the verb. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refute their predictions" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that evidence or reasoning has disproven someone's forecasts. Ludwig AI confirms the same. While not extremely common, it finds usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. Alternative phrases such as "disprove their predictions" or "contradict their forecasts" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure you have solid evidence to support your refutation, and avoid using it simply to express disagreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disprove their predictions

Uses a more direct verb, "disprove", emphasizing the act of showing something to be false.

contradict their forecasts

Replaces "predictions" with "forecasts", a synonym, and "refute" with "contradict", highlighting a direct opposition.

invalidate their projections

Employs a more formal tone by using "invalidate" instead of "refute", suggesting a formal or technical context.

debunk their forecasts

"Debunk" implies exposing something as false or exaggerated, adding a layer of exposing falsehood.

prove their predictions wrong

More verbose but emphasizes the outcome of being incorrect.

challenge their predictions

"Challenge" suggests questioning the predictions rather than definitively disproving them.

call into question their predictions

This implies casting doubt on the predictions rather than a complete refutation.

undermine their forecasts

"Undermine" suggests weakening the confidence in the forecasts rather than directly disproving them.

counter their prognostications

Uses more formal synonyms ("counter" for refute, "prognostications" for predictions) for a heightened sense of sophistication.

negate their expectations

Offers a more direct and somewhat forceful way to express the failure of the predictions.

FAQs

How can I use "refute their predictions" in a sentence?

You can use "refute their predictions" to indicate that you have evidence or arguments that disprove someone's forecasts. For example, "The experiment's results "refute their predictions" about the reaction's speed."

What's a simpler way to say "refute their predictions"?

Alternatives include "disprove their predictions" or "contradict their forecasts". These options are more straightforward and may suit less formal contexts.

Is it better to say "refute their predictions" or "challenge their predictions"?

"Refute" implies a stronger, more definitive disproof, while "challenge" suggests questioning or disputing the predictions without necessarily disproving them. The best choice depends on the strength of your evidence or argument.

What's the difference between "refute their predictions" and "prove their predictions wrong"?

"Refute their predictions" is more concise and direct. "Prove their predictions wrong" is more verbose but emphasizes the outcome of the predictions being incorrect. Both are valid, but the former is often preferred for its efficiency.