Which of the following words is synonymous with the word "confute"?

The word "confute" means to disprove an argument or statement; it implies showing that a claim is wrong through evidence or reasoning. In this context, “confute” involves actively demonstrating the error or falseness of something.

The choice that aligns with this meaning is "confound," which can mean to thwart or confuse but, in certain contexts, can also relate to disproving or refuting an argument or idea. Hence, "confound" carries a sense of challenging an assertion's validity, which relates closely to the act of confuting.

The other choices do not share this meaning. "Confirm" suggests proving something to be true, which is the opposite of confuting. "Attest" means to provide evidence or testimony in support of something, again aligning with affirmation rather than disproval. "Distort" refers to altering the original form or meaning of something, which is not synonymous with the act of disproving an argument. Thus, "confound" is the best match for the word "confute."