“If confute does not compute read below.”
“You may refute or confute an argument, but you cannot refute a person.”
Confute
Definition (verb): prove a person or an assertion to be wrong.
1) “He confuted his accuser with facts.”
2) “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.” — Francis Bacon
Pronunciation: kuhn-fyoot
About the Word: From the Latin “confutare,” meaning “to answer conclusively.” “Confute” is like “refute” except that “confute” is used to prove a person or people wrong, while “refute” is used only to prove ideas wrong. Consequently, you may refute a claim, but you can only confute the person who made the claim.