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
That debunked audio, which was also AI-generated, turned out to have been created by a political operative, who faced subsequent criminal charges.
—
John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
The Nigerian government has debunked that in the past.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump’s remarks prompted criticism and mockery on social media, with some noting that the claims had previously been debunked.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Yet research has thoroughly debunked this idea.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
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John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
The Nigerian government has debunked that in the past.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump’s remarks prompted criticism and mockery on social media, with some noting that the claims had previously been debunked.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Yet research has thoroughly debunked this idea.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 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 10 Oct. 2025.
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