1
as in to refute
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 to expose
to reveal the true nature of
the investigative reporter easily debunked the charlatan's claims of clairvoyance
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Recent Examples of debunk
This rumor was later debunked by the Croatian National Tourism Board in a statement, sharing that the medieval coastal city has no intentions to implement such a ban in the future.
—
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
But, like with MacDougall, the One Piece scientist’s theory is eventually debunked.
—Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
In Season 2, though, Zac Affleck debunked the claim as a family joke.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Utah debunked claims the father was employed by the department.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
But, like with MacDougall, the One Piece scientist’s theory is eventually debunked.
—Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
In Season 2, though, Zac Affleck debunked the claim as a family joke.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Utah debunked claims the father was employed by the department.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
Verb
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Szymon Laks, conductor of one of several male orchestras at Auschwitz-Birkenau, vehemently refuted the notion that music was helpful to anyone in the camp.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
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Ghana’s officials refuted the claims of the lawyers, saying the individuals were returned to their home nations.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Their latest attempt, through a kangaroo immigration court, exposes their true colors once again.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Most organic compounds are extremely fragile when exposed to harsh environmental conditions — and that’s especially true for biomolecules, most of which are large organic compounds.—
Dirk Schulze-Makuch,
Big Think,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tootles’ death disproves this, showing that a hybrid being can die under extreme circumstances.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
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Needs teeth Reforms are being reversed not because data disproves the need, but because the politics now allow retreat.—
Hansel Alejandro Aguilar,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Barr confirms unreleased Epstein footage Barr confirmed that searches of Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, and possibly his island and New Mexico home, had uncovered cameras and recording systems.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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After years of demanding better pay and protections from individual farmers and buyers, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers — the anti-trafficking organization that uncovered the first examples of abuse in the massive federal case — launched the Fair Food Program in 2010.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Holmes likewise discredited the MS-13 accusation, for which prosecutors relied on the testimony of coöperating witnesses who either contradicted one another or were otherwise unreliable.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.—
Matthew J. Frauenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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