What does it mean to formally contradict or oppose by legal argument?

The term "rebut" means to formally contradict or oppose a statement or argument by presenting evidence or reasoning that counters it. In a legal context, when one party rebuts the claims of another, they are providing a defense against those claims, usually in support of their own position. This involves engaging directly with the arguments made by the opposing side and offering counterarguments that highlight flaws or weaknesses in those claims.

In contrast, the other terms have distinct meanings in legal contexts. For instance, "appeal" refers to the process of seeking a higher court's review of a lower court's decision, rather than directly opposing an argument. "Quash" typically involves a judicial decision to annul or set aside a legal ruling, rather than engaging in a back-and-forth argument. "Challenge" generally refers to calling something into question, but does not specifically imply the formal act of contradicting an argument in a structured manner as rebuttal does. Thus, "rebut" is the best fit for the definition of formally contradicting or opposing through legal argumentation.