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
Did you know?
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
Sensational newspaper accounts later suggested the three men had starved to death in the boat after attempting to eat their life vests—a theory that was soon debunked.
—
Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Both Musk and President Trump have claimed that Social Security is rife with fraud, saying that 150-year-olds are collecting benefits, an allegation that has been debunked.
—Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Clearer Work-Life Boundaries, Greater Balance The misconception that remote work equals better work-life balance has been thoroughly debunked.
—Adam Stott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
But the now-adult stars behind those child characters have debunked a rumor that has surrounded that scene for decades.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
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.
Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Both Musk and President Trump have claimed that Social Security is rife with fraud, saying that 150-year-olds are collecting benefits, an allegation that has been debunked.
—Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Clearer Work-Life Boundaries, Greater Balance The misconception that remote work equals better work-life balance has been thoroughly debunked.
—Adam Stott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
But the now-adult stars behind those child characters have debunked a rumor that has surrounded that scene for decades.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Apr. 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 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share