disprove

/dɪsˈpɹuːv/verb

To show that a claim or belief is not true.

Example sentence

“The new experiment disproved a theory that scientists had accepted for decades.”

Theories are disproved by evidence; 'disproven' is an accepted alternative participle. Note the pairing with 'prove', its exact opposite.

Related words

disquietA feeling of unease or worry; the absence of calm in the mind or body.dispositionThe way things are positioned or organized in relation to one another.disregardA deliberate refusal to pay attention to something or treat it as important.displayA screen on an electronic device where text and images appear.disruptTo interrupt something and prevent it from continuing normally.disperseTo spread out or move apart over a wide area, or to make things do this.