1
as in refuted
to prove to be false
a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exposed
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
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Recent Examples of debunked
This canard has been repeatedly debunked by historians and repeatedly invoked by Owens.
—
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump’s election comment came in an interview Monday with a conservative podcaster and the Republican president reaffirmed his position in Oval Office remarks the next day, citing fraud allegations that numerous audits, investigations and courts have debunked.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The ‘new manager bounce’ might have been debunked, but both men are doing their best to keep the myth alive.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Video footage has repeatedly debunked official accounts.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Information often spreads online faster than it can be verified, and can continue to proliferate even after being debunked.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Hyman debunked the myth that drinking can be good for heart health.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Former Georgia Republican Party official Marci McCarthy, who pushed debunked claims about the state's voting machines, is the director of public affairs for CISA, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Nearly a year before Kim debunked the rumors, Cheban rejected the claims during a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly, sharing sentiments similar to Kim’s about their differing lifestyles.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump’s election comment came in an interview Monday with a conservative podcaster and the Republican president reaffirmed his position in Oval Office remarks the next day, citing fraud allegations that numerous audits, investigations and courts have debunked.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The ‘new manager bounce’ might have been debunked, but both men are doing their best to keep the myth alive.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Video footage has repeatedly debunked official accounts.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Information often spreads online faster than it can be verified, and can continue to proliferate even after being debunked.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Hyman debunked the myth that drinking can be good for heart health.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Former Georgia Republican Party official Marci McCarthy, who pushed debunked claims about the state's voting machines, is the director of public affairs for CISA, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Nearly a year before Kim debunked the rumors, Cheban rejected the claims during a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly, sharing sentiments similar to Kim’s about their differing lifestyles.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunked
Verb
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These claims have been widely refuted by cancer experts, who have publicly stated that there is no scientific evidence or clinical trial data to support them at this time.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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Local police and the city manager refuted the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Israeli intelligence expert Sima Shein has warned that negotiations narrowly focused on nuclear restrictions could leave Israel exposed.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Mike elects to go out on his own, and thus Money dispatches the mangy-looking kill machine Orman (Barry Keoghan; bleach-blond hair plus exposed roots = sociopath) to intercept Mike’s next job and take him down.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Archaeologists uncovered a wealth of remains from prehistory, the Roman period, and the Middle Ages.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Feb. 2026
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Autopsy results for the 8-year-old are pending, but preliminary findings indicate signs consistent with long-term malnourishment and physical abuse, consistent with the evidence uncovered by investigators at the scene, authorities said.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debunked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunked. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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