debunk

American  

[dih-buhngk] / dɪˈbʌŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated.

   to debunk advertising slogans.

   Synonyms:

   lampoon, ridicule, disparage

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debunk British  

/ diːˈbʌŋk /

verb

1. informal (tr) to expose the pretensions or falseness of, esp by ridicule

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Other Word Forms

• debunker noun

Etymology

Origin of debunk

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; de- + bunk ²

Explanation

When you debunk something you show it to be false. Many magicians, including Houdini and Penn and Teller, have worked to debunk the idea that magic is anything other than a very clever illusion. To debunk something is to prove it wrong. The idea that music education is frivolous and should be the first item cut from the budget is something that music teachers work hard to debunk — in fact, they've done it by proving that students perform better in schools with strong music programs. The verb debunk was first used by an American writer, William Woodward, in 1923, to mean "take the bunk out of something." Bunk means "nonsense."

Example Sentences

It’s hard to debunk false claims “coming with the seal of the federal government,” said Derek Tisler, counsel and manager with the Brennan Center for Justice’s elections and government program.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Though easy to debunk, such theories persist as Artemis II comes decades after the previous lunar missions, events today's internet-savvy generation has little recollection of.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Texas primary returns debunk the myth that rural voters don’t care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

He even took arms against the Murdoch-owned New York Post, which posted its story with the headline, “RFK Jr. says Tylenol after circumcisions linked to autism,” and proceeded to debunk the claim.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• demystify
• disparage
• mock
• puncture