this was refuted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was refuted by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a claim or argument that has been disproven or challenged by someone or something. Example: "The theory proposed by the researcher was compelling, but this was refuted by subsequent studies that provided contradictory evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

This was refuted by other scientists.

The Guardian

This was refuted by Losts writers.

Wikipedia

This was refuted by several figures associated with the film, including Leigh, who stated: "absolutely not!

Wikipedia

It was rumoured that Bradley would be seen to commit suicide during the live episode, but this was refuted by an EastEnders spokesperson.

Wikipedia

Lawson's [2] suggestion that Quetzalcoatlus was an obligate scavenger is partially based on the association of sauropod remains with the pterosaur material, but this was refuted by Martill [27] as circumstantial evidence.

Plosone

Several studies have shown positive association of D2 subtype of dopamine receptor (DRD2) in schizophrenia [ 8- 12] however, this was refuted by many others [ 13- 16].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This is refuted by a Jewish teaching, as well as other faith teachings: "When God created Adam, God took him and showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him, 'See my works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are.

Huffington Post

M. Rajičić concluded that it was between 1366 and 1371, as he believed Jovan Oliver to have held his lands at least to 1366, and based on that the Pčinja pomenik (memorial book) said that Dejan had died after Jovan Oliver (this is refuted by S. Mandić).

Wikipedia

While it would be attractive to suppose that the substrate alone causes the difference in R, this is refuted by the finding of Watkins et al. that monolayers also have R = 1 when deposited on a quartz substrate.

ACS Nano

This charge was refuted by the operation's commander, Gurgen Daribaltayan, and others since "Moscow [i.e., the Russian government] was not in total control of Armenian military operations".

Wikipedia

This assessment was refuted by Captain Hotham, who publicly responded that "the advanced season of the year and the close proximity of the enemy's coast all made what, upon another occasion, might have appeared haste imperatively necessary, for it was the prompt decision of the Admiral that occasioned the result".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be specific about who or what refuted the claim. Vague attribution weakens your argument. Saying "this was refuted by scientists" is less effective than "this was refuted by a study published in Nature".

Common error

Avoid using "this was refuted by" when the evidence only challenges the claim, rather than definitively disproving it. Use weaker language like "this was questioned by" or "this was contradicted by" if the refutation is not absolute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was refuted by" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that a previous statement, theory, or claim has been proven false or invalid. It emphasizes the act of refutation and the entity that performed the refutation. Ludwig examples confirm this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this was refuted by" serves as a grammatical construction used to signify the invalidation of a prior assertion. Ludwig AI analysis classifies it as grammatically correct, yet uncommon in frequency. It commonly appears in scientific publications, news reports, and encyclopedic entries, indicating a formal or neutral register. Common alternatives includes phrases such as "this was disproven by" or "this was contradicted by". Therefore, when using it, you need to ensure a clear presentation of the original claim and the evidence or argument that disproves it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this was disproven by

Emphasizes a definitive negation of the initial statement.

this was contradicted by

Highlights conflicting evidence rather than a direct refutation.

this was challenged by

Suggests an argument or questioning of the initial statement's validity.

this was debunked by

Implies exposure of falseness, often used in the context of myths or misconceptions.

this was invalidated by

Indicates that new information rendered initial claim no longer valid.

this was negated by

A more formal term indicating a declaration that the claim is untrue or ineffective.

this was overturned by

Highlights the reversal of a decision or finding due to new evidence.

this was dismissed by

Indicates that claim or idea wasn't taken seriously because of insufficient evidence.

this was repudiated by

Highlights that the initial claim was rejected or denied by someone.

this was confuted by

A more archaic and formal synonym for 'refuted'.

FAQs

How can I use "this was refuted by" in a sentence?

Use "this was refuted by" to indicate that a claim or statement has been proven wrong or shown to be false by evidence or argument. For example, "The initial hypothesis was refuted by subsequent experimental data".

What's a stronger way to say "this was refuted by"?

For a stronger connotation, you could say "this was disproven by" or "this was debunked by", implying a more decisive and thorough invalidation.

What can I say instead of "this was refuted by" if the evidence is not conclusive?

If the evidence only challenges the claim without fully disproving it, use phrases like "this was questioned by" or "this was contradicted by".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "this was refuted by"?

While "this was refuted by" is passive, using the active voice (e.g., "Researchers refuted this claim") can make your writing more direct and engaging. However, the passive voice is appropriate when you want to emphasize the claim being refuted rather than the refuting agent.