Edward Everett Hale

Wrong fails because it is wrong. The wrongs, the untruths, are inconsistent with each other. They clash against each other and confute each other. They neutralize each other and are lost.

American Clergyman

Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

English Philosopher

Use 'confute' to express a strong intellectual challenge to an idea or belief.

Intellectual Challenge

Preferrably used in formal writing or discussions, not in casual conversations.

Formal Contexts

'Confute' implies that evidence or logical reasoning is provided to prove something wrong.

Evidence Required

'Confute' is often used when someone actively engages in argument or debate to disprove a point.

Argumentative Nuance

Conveys a sense of finality in disproving an argument, leaving little room for rebuttal.