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The -but in rebut once meant basically "butt", so rebut's original meanings were "to drive or beat back" and "to attack with violent language". Rebuttals can still be rather violent, as anyone who has watched some heated moments in a presidential debate can testify. The word is often used by lawyers, since the lawyer for the accused or for the party being sued almost always tries to rebut the charges against his or her client; but it's also used in plenty of contexts outside the courtroom.
Synonyms
Examples of rebut in a Sentence
Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
The plaintiffs will attempt to rebut these defenses in forthcoming court filings.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Cohen rebutted — before revealing Snoop, 53, has someone monitoring the situation to ensure everyone is safe.
—Jade Gomez, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
As if to rebut the doubters, Trump appeared in early October at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the scene of the first assassination attempt against him, alongside his wealthiest benefactor, Musk.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rebut 
Dictionary Entries Near rebut
Cite this Entry
“Rebut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebut. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rebut
verb
Legal Definition
rebut
transitive verb
Anglo-French reboter, rebuter to answer a charge, bar from an action, literally, to repulse, rebuff, from Old French reboter, from re- back + boter to push, butt
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