debunk
verb
de·bunk
(ˌ)dē-ˈbəŋk 
debunked; debunking; debunks
: to expose the sham (see sham entry 1 sense 2) or falseness of
debunk a legend
debunker
noun
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To debunk something is to take the bunk out of it—that bunk being “nonsense.” (Bunk is short for the synonymous bunkum, which has political origins.) Debunk has been in use since at least the 1920s, and it contrasts with synonyms like disprove and rebut by suggesting that something is not merely untrue but is also a sham—a trick meant to deceive. One can simply disprove a myth, but if it is debunked, the implication is that the myth was a grossly exaggerated or foolish claim.
Examples of debunk in a Sentence
The article debunks the notion that life exists on Mars.
The results of the study debunk his theory.
Recent Examples on the Web
The book examined the history of rape and helped debunk the view that victims were partly to blame.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2025
The Duchess of Sussex previously hosted Archetypes on Spotify in 2022 and the show focused on debunking the stereotypes that hold women back later won the People’s Choice Award for pop podcast.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 27 May 2025
Related Story ‘Just Let Us Age’: Constance Zimmer’s Bold Message to Hollywood About Midlife Women
This has since been debunked, but the HRT stigma remains.
—Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 20 May 2025
The presence of the alpha male theory in mainstream media suggests that many individuals do not realize that this theory has been debunked.
—Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
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Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2025
The Duchess of Sussex previously hosted Archetypes on Spotify in 2022 and the show focused on debunking the stereotypes that hold women back later won the People’s Choice Award for pop podcast.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 27 May 2025
Related Story ‘Just Let Us Age’: Constance Zimmer’s Bold Message to Hollywood About Midlife Women
This has since been debunked, but the HRT stigma remains.
—Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 20 May 2025
The presence of the alpha male theory in mainstream media suggests that many individuals do not realize that this theory has been debunked.
—Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debunk. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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