1
as in refuting
to prove to be false
a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exposing
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 debunking
Once someone has formed an opinion, debunking their belief can backfire, driving them to commit even more strongly to their mistake.
—
Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
This is one of the most critical details in debunking the claim.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Certainly, the association with Jeffrey Epstein is not especially helpful for debunking something nefarious.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1990s, neuroscientists have accumulated evidence debunking this idea.
—Alicia Garceau, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
After stirring the pot on social media, Lisa Rinna is debunking the rumor that Colton Underwood stormed out of The Traitors reunion.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
State officials later visited many of the facilities, debunking Shirley’s claims.
—St. John Barned-Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
Rudd's July appearance on the Take Off Your Shoes podcast circulated widely enough online that the fact-checking website Snopes even published an article that month debunking the claim that Rudd was seriously injured in the coffee-spilling incident featured on the episode.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, Reddit came to the rescue and started debunking the theory almost right away.
—John Brandon, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
This is one of the most critical details in debunking the claim.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Certainly, the association with Jeffrey Epstein is not especially helpful for debunking something nefarious.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1990s, neuroscientists have accumulated evidence debunking this idea.
—Alicia Garceau, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
After stirring the pot on social media, Lisa Rinna is debunking the rumor that Colton Underwood stormed out of The Traitors reunion.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
State officials later visited many of the facilities, debunking Shirley’s claims.
—St. John Barned-Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
Rudd's July appearance on the Take Off Your Shoes podcast circulated widely enough online that the fact-checking website Snopes even published an article that month debunking the claim that Rudd was seriously injured in the coffee-spilling incident featured on the episode.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, Reddit came to the rescue and started debunking the theory almost right away.
—John Brandon, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunking
Verb
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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
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Gould had re-released his own book with new material refuting those arguments.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Protect your boundaries with care, explain what is comfortable, and suggest another way to support everyone without exposing too many details.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
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Detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect seen on video assaulting a woman while exposing himself publicly in Weston on Wednesday afternoon.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Older machine learning methods had previously enabled such serendipitous mathematical discoveries, too — uncovering patterns no one had thought to look for.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
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Individuals born with Neptune in Scorpio often feel drawn to life's mysteries, dreaming of emotional transformation, psychological depth and uncovering hidden truths.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunking. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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