debunk

verb

de·​bunk (ˌ)dē-ˈbəŋk 

debunked; debunking; debunks

transitive verb

: to expose the sham (see sham entry 1 sense 2) or falseness of

debunk a legend

debunker noun

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• refute

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

In February 2025, Earle debunked engagement rumors with the NFL player. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 July 2025

Burruss’ statement debunked rumors that Season 16 of RHOA would be Morton’s first and last. —Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 30 July 2025

By debunking common myths and embracing these realities, my hope is that organizations can appreciate the true value of RevOps, and aspiring professionals can better prepare for its demands. —Vivek Vishal, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

The 44th commander in chief’s office debunked the claim that an intelligence report released last week by Trump Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard somehow amounts to new evidence against Obama or losing 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for debunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

Kids Definition

debunk

verb

de·​bunk (ˈ)dē-ˈbəŋk 

: to expose the falseness in

debunk popular myths

debunker noun