refute vs contradict

refute and contradict both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
refute	No	No	Yes	No
contradict	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, contradict is a hyponym of refute; that is, contradict is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than refute:

Other hyponyms of refute include controvert, oppose, answer.

refute (verb)	contradict (verb)
prove to be false or incorrect	prove negative; show to be false
overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof	deny the truth of
	be resistant to
	be in contradiction with