to disprove

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to disprove" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate the act of demonstrating that a statement or belief is false or incorrect. Example: "The scientist conducted experiments to disprove the theory that all swans are white."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The evidence seems to disprove this.

The Economist

A good day to disprove Wenger's theories.

Independent

He then proceeded to disprove this.

The New York Times - Arts

There's no way to disprove it.

The Guardian - Books

Labor has produced nothing to disprove this.

The Guardian

Murray will try to disprove that Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

Then it's up to the prosecution to disprove that claim.

The New York Times

On its Web site it seeks to disprove various "fictions".

The New York Times

This is almost impossible for the "offender" to disprove.

The Economist

Those claims are very hard to prove or to disprove.

The New York Times

"I've been trying to disprove him at some point".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to disprove", ensure you have sufficient evidence or a strong argument to support your claim. Avoid using it loosely without concrete backing.

Common error

Avoid using "to disprove" when you only have preliminary evidence. It's better to say you are "challenging" or "questioning" a theory until you have conclusive proof.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to disprove" functions as an infinitive verb phrase. It often appears as part of a larger clause, serving to indicate the purpose or intention behind an action. Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

27%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The infinitive phrase "to disprove" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate the act of proving something false or erroneous. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and broadly applicable, especially in News & Media and Science. When employing "to disprove", make sure to have solid evidence to back up your claims, and remember there are many ways to say a similar thing for a better writing experience. Consider options such as "to refute" or "to debunk" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prove false

A more direct and explicit way of stating "to disprove".

to refute

Focuses on presenting evidence or arguments to counter a statement.

to debunk

Implies revealing the falseness of something widely believed.

to invalidate

Highlights the process of making something legally or factually unsound.

to contradict

Emphasizes direct opposition and inconsistency with a statement.

to challenge

Indicates questioning the validity of something, often requiring further proof.

to expose the fallacy of

Specifically targets the logical flaws in an argument.

to negate

Focuses on nullifying or cancelling out the effect or truth of something.

to overturn

Implies reversing a previous decision or belief.

to belie

Suggests that something contradicts or misrepresents the truth.

FAQs

How do you use "to disprove" in a sentence?

You can use "to disprove" to describe the act of demonstrating that a statement or belief is false. For example, "The scientist conducted experiments to disprove the theory that all swans are white."

What's a more formal way to say "to disprove"?

A more formal alternative to "to disprove" is "to refute". This implies presenting evidence and arguments to counter a statement.

Is there a difference between "to disprove" and "to debunk"?

While both terms indicate showing something is false, "to debunk" often suggests revealing the falseness of something widely believed or accepted.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "to disprove"?

Use "to disprove" when you have evidence or logical arguments that challenge the validity of a claim. If you're simply questioning a claim without strong evidence, consider using phrases like "to challenge" or "to question" instead.