debunk

[ dih-buhngk ]

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

debunk

/ diːˈbʌŋk /

verb

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

Derived Forms

• deˈbunker, noun

Other Words From

• de·bunker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of debunk¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of debunk¹

C20: from de- + bunk ²

Example Sentences

Local news broadcaster Tegna plans to roll out its fact-checking and debunking vertical, Verify, into a standalone brand by this summer, and draw on local expertise among the 49 newsrooms across the country it serves.

From Digiday

This year, we felt it was necessary to take it one step further and give readers their own tools to debunk false and misleading visuals.

From Washington Post

The anti-vaccine protest that temporarily cut off access to a mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium was organized on Facebook through a page that promotes debunked claims about the coronavirus pandemic, masks and immunization.

From Washington Post

“Some of the original forecasts from the IHME group were using a method that had been thoroughly debunked before I probably was even born,” Scarpino said.

From Quanta Magazine

The post was deleted because LG brutally debunked the report, calling it "completely false and without merit."

From Ars Technica

This is when Cummings realized that it was time to debunk that “people like strong women” rumor.

From The Daily Beast

Those images themselves should debunk the myths that Islam and Muslims are extreme.

From The Daily Beast

And empirical studies debunk what most Americans believe about drugs.

From The Daily Beast

Part of what I was trying to do was debunk what people view as the golden ages.

From The Daily Beast

The more we can reinforce good fear—and debunk bad fear—the more we can enhance those chances even further.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• demystify
• disparage
• mock
• puncture