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
This is one of the most critical details in debunking the claim.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Zendaya did, however, debunk the fake wedding photos generated by artificial intelligence that were circulating on social media earlier this month.
—Zara Irshad, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
Despite being debunked time and time again, a startling proportion of the public still hold onto these claims.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Certainly, the association with Jeffrey Epstein is not especially helpful for debunking something nefarious.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Zendaya did, however, debunk the fake wedding photos generated by artificial intelligence that were circulating on social media earlier this month.
—Zara Irshad, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
Despite being debunked time and time again, a startling proportion of the public still hold onto these claims.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Certainly, the association with Jeffrey Epstein is not especially helpful for debunking something nefarious.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
Verb
-
The documentary is already stirring up buzz due to Odom’s recent comments refuting some of the details and recollections from his ex-wife Khloé Kardashian.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Alito and his supporters worked hard to refute any suggestion of partisanship.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With threats to expose social security numbers, dates of birth, family information, grades, and even confidential medical information, the breach cornered PowerSchool into paying millions of dollars in ransom.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
People who believe that they may have been exposed to the disease should call the County Tuberculosis Control Program at (619) 692-8621 for guidance.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The detectives recognized that his heartbeat would disprove his story of running around trying to rescue all of his worldly belongings.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Only after World War II—and over the objections of much of the brass—was the military integrated, and then only after an exhaustive internal investigation disproved racist assumptions that Black troops could only fill menial roles or serve in segregated units.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What investigators uncovered was a complex attack involving blockchain infrastructure, malware that functions across various platforms, and thousands of software developers and the companies that hire them.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Reporting from Colorado News 9 in 2025 uncovered that Flock Safety had operated a pilot program that allowed federal agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection, to send invites to local law enforcement agencies.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In Mexico the loss of territory discredited the country’s conservative government and left many of its citizens unsure of their country’s future as an independent state.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
-
This negativism and teen-like outbursts consequently discredit and tarnish the reputation of our country.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
