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
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.
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
How surveillance video became his get-out-of-jail card In early May, nearly two months after he was detained, Patel held onto the hope a compilation of security footage from the Walmart store would debunk the accusation keeping him behind bars.
—
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Mick West, a science writer who has published books on how to debunk sensational claims, echoed the comet's discoverer.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Carnival ambassador and cruise blogger John Heald debunked the rumor in a recent Facebook post.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
But now, Shayla Love writes, new research has all but debunked the influential idea.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Mick West, a science writer who has published books on how to debunk sensational claims, echoed the comet's discoverer.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Carnival ambassador and cruise blogger John Heald debunked the rumor in a recent Facebook post.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
But now, Shayla Love writes, new research has all but debunked the influential idea.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debunk. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share