self-refute

verb

(of an idea or theory) To prove itself false by showing that falsehood is a logical consequence of the act or situation of holding it to be true.

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Meanings

verbself-refute (third-person singular simple present self-refutes, present participle self-refuting, simple past and past participle self-refuted)

present singular third person self-refutes · participle present self-refuting · participle past self-refuted · past self-refuted

  1. intransitive(of an idea or theory) To prove itself false by showing that falsehood is a logical consequence of the act or situation of holding it to be true.

    Moreover it is philosophical suicide, since it self-refutes.

    2008, Graham Dunstan Martin, Living on Purpose: Meaning, Intention, and Value

Origin

From self- + refute.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

self-refute. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-refute

MLA

“self-refute.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-refute. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “self-refute,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-refute.

Source: self-refute on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.