debunk

verb

(ˌ)dē-ˈbəŋk How to pronounce debunk (audio)
Definition of debunknext
1
as in to refute
to prove to be false a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends

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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

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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 Twitch streamer Denims made a reaction video debunking Ethan’s video. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2026 Since then, other sources have debunked Meghan’s claims and alleged that she’s made an enemy of The Gentlemen creator Guy Ritchie. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Oct. 2026 Many had been examined ad nauseam, including by those at the reception, and roundly debunked. — Andy Mannix, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2026 Election officials are debunking a years-old conspiracy theory. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
  1. refute
  2. expose
  3. disprove
  4. uncover
  5. discredit
Verb
  • In October, the Chinese government refuted claims that its baby diapers contained a toxic chemical called formamide and declared the products safe.
    — Jeff Marks,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Some suggested that one or more stars might orbit Betelgeuse; others found no evidence for such companions or actively refuted their existence.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of refute
Verb
  • Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff defended his leadership and pledged reforms, while faculty members say the case exposed broader failures; an independent review of the university’s response is underway.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Google DeepMind researchers have used AI agents to discover cryptographic techniques that expose weaknesses in legacy RSA encryption up to 1,600 times faster than previous methods.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of expose
Verb
  • In a letter published by N12, Sohlberg instructed the domestic security agency to investigate the allegations and identify evidence that could either substantiate or disprove them.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Folklorists don’t study such stories in order to disprove them.
    — Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of disprove
Verb
  • Independence matters most when problems emerge The real test of independent oversight comes when an assessment uncovers something a developer would rather not hear.
    — Avani Desai, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • In brain-mapping studies that recalled Wilder Penfield’s pioneering work, his team steadily uncovered fundamental principles of how speech is represented by neural activity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of uncover
Verb
  • In his closing arguments Monday, Nov 2, attorney Ian Winter worked to discredit and downplay the six women whose allegations anchor the criminal case against Brand (via Sky News).
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026
  • With the midterms now days away, the complaint is part of an urgent effort to discredit Peltola in a must-win Senate race that could easily determine the upper chamber’s majority.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of discredit

Browse Nearby Words

debugs
debunk
debunked
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Cite this Entry

“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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