debunk
verb (used with object)
to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated.
debunking
-
present participleof debunk.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If every event is met with automatic suspicion and conspiracy theory, we’ll spend all our time debunking nonsense, and nothing will ever get better.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
Penn has partnered with media publishers including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Washington Post on studies debunking the idea that having ads appear near news stories harms brands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
Internet users are increasingly turning to chatbots to verify images in real time, but the tools often fail, raising questions about their visual debunking capabilities.
From Barron's ● Dec. 16, 2025
If a fact-checker rated a post as false, Meta notified the user and added a warning label with a link to an article debunking its claims.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2025
Its place in the canons of poetics and rhetoric, moreover, has largely survived the personal debunking of its author.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
