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
Higgins also debunked the debasement trade hypothesis.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
However, Stefano Caroti, president and chief executive officer of Deckers Brands, worked to debunk investor concerns on the company’s Q2 earnings call with analysts on Thursday.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump has repeatedly said that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is a driving force behind TdA's operations, something experts on the gang have debunked multiple times.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
None of the parties involved in the two complaints were contacted by CIF, the school or the district and Grebing said Zissi was not given any opportunity to debunk the accusations.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
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Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
However, Stefano Caroti, president and chief executive officer of Deckers Brands, worked to debunk investor concerns on the company’s Q2 earnings call with analysts on Thursday.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump has repeatedly said that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is a driving force behind TdA's operations, something experts on the gang have debunked multiple times.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
None of the parties involved in the two complaints were contacted by CIF, the school or the district and Grebing said Zissi was not given any opportunity to debunk the accusations.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 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 4 Nov. 2025.
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