1. (v. t.) To contradict, to oppose by argument\, plea, or countervailing proof.

2. (v. t.) To drive or beat back; to repulse.

3. (v. i.) To retire; to recoil.

4. (v. i.) To make, or put in, an answer, as to a plaintiff's surrejoinder.

advocate allege in support answer answer conclusively argue down argue for assert be contrary to belie blow sky-high break call into question challenge champion confound confute contend for contest contradict contravene controvert counter countercharge counterclaim cross crush defeat defend demolish deny destroy devastate disconfirm discredit dismiss dispose of disprove espouse evert expose finish floor gainsay hold off invalidate keep off maintain make a plea make a rebuttal negate nonplus oppugn overthrow overturn overwhelm parry plead for puncture put to silence rebuff reduce to silence refute reject rejoin repel reply repulse respond riposte ruin say in defense settle shoot down shut up silence smash all opposition speak for speak up for squash squelch stand up for stave off stick up for subvert support surrebut surrejoin sustain traverse undermine uphold upset urge reasons for ward off