1
as in to refute
to prove to be false
a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expose
to reveal the true nature of
the investigative reporter easily debunked the charlatan's claims of clairvoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of debunk
During the podcast, Reeves also debunked a common Internet myth that he was scouted to actually play in the NFL.
—
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Murphy also attempted to debunk the DHS claims that Chicago police abandoned federal agents after the ramming incident by showing videos of Chicago police officers on scene after Martinez was shot, and clips of officers wiping their eyes after being affected by teargas deployed by agents.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan attended the news conference tribunal where Pearce debunked the network's scheme.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Beloved legends elaborated, not debunked Zarka is expanding her role as an authority on all matters monster with a book on cryptids.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Murphy also attempted to debunk the DHS claims that Chicago police abandoned federal agents after the ramming incident by showing videos of Chicago police officers on scene after Martinez was shot, and clips of officers wiping their eyes after being affected by teargas deployed by agents.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan attended the news conference tribunal where Pearce debunked the network's scheme.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Beloved legends elaborated, not debunked Zarka is expanding her role as an authority on all matters monster with a book on cryptids.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
Verb
-
In their letter Tuesday, Smith's attorneys sought to refute a narrative stemming from a document released by the FBI on the eve of Attorney General Pam Bondi's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Like Dunbar’s speakers, Hughes’s dispossessed have no way out, and the poem implicitly refutes optimism regarding the Great Migration and racial progress.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Many scientists believe this phenomenon is being spurred in part by rapidly melting glaciers exposing the mountainside.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Based on legal proceedings and real investigations, The Monster of Florence revisits one of Italy’s darkest chapters through the eyes of those accused over the years—the possible monsters—exposing how hysteria and speculation blurred the line between truth and myth.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Why do some people endorse claims that can easily be disproved?—
Abraham Rutchick,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Abramov points out that this does not disprove the Mars life explanation, but rather just presents an alternative, albeit much more probable, explanation for the evidence.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An early example was uncovered by the young Benjaman Graham, who went on co-author a classic book on investing, and was the early mentor to Warren Buffett.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The mathematical problems had already been solved by humans—and GPT-5 had simply uncovered the existing solutions to those problems.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pritzker has been trying to debunk claims that Chicago is an out-of-control hellhole; to assert in court that the federal government has no right to send in federal troops; and to discredit the tactics by immigration agents to arrest migrants in his state’s streets and businesses.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Demonstrations can be hard to describe and easy to discredit.—
Nancy Gibbs,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share