debunk
verb
de·bunk
(ˌ)dē-ˈbəŋk 
debunked; debunking; debunks
: to expose the sham (see sham entry 1 sense 2) or falseness of
debunk a legend
debunker
noun
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To debunk something is to take the bunk out of it—that bunk being nonsense. (Bunk is short for the synonymous bunkum, which has political origins.) Debunk has been in use since at least the 1920s, and it contrasts with synonyms like disprove and rebut by suggesting that something is not merely untrue but is also a sham—a trick meant to deceive. One can simply disprove a myth, but if it is debunked, the implication is that the myth was a grossly exaggerated or foolish claim.
Examples of debunk in a Sentence
The article debunks the notion that life exists on Mars.
The results of the study debunk his theory.
Recent Examples on the Web
The podcaster, who hosted the in-ring interviews, did not challenge Hokit's false claim, which was born from a far-right conspiracy theory and has been debunked many times.
—
Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 15 June 2026
With those rumors essentially being debunked, now comes word that WWE is actually planning a blockbuster change for the former World Heavyweight Champion.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Donut Lab’s solid-state battery claims have been thoroughly debunked by Ryan Inis Hughes on his popular Ziroth YouTube channel.
—Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 9 June 2026
Locals believed the city’s cool, foggy climate nurtured a unique strain of wild yeast—a theory since debunked.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
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Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 15 June 2026
With those rumors essentially being debunked, now comes word that WWE is actually planning a blockbuster change for the former World Heavyweight Champion.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Donut Lab’s solid-state battery claims have been thoroughly debunked by Ryan Inis Hughes on his popular Ziroth YouTube channel.
—Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 9 June 2026
Locals believed the city’s cool, foggy climate nurtured a unique strain of wild yeast—a theory since debunked.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debunk. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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