debunk
verb (used with object)
to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated.
has debunked
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present perfectof debunk (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
AFP Fact Check has debunked numerous videos falsely presented as evidence of attacks on foreign nationals that were in fact filmed years earlier or in other countries.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
If the idea of romantic destiny is, as you call it in your book, “the weakest idea ever promoted by scientists,” what is your number-one dating myth you feel your personal research has debunked?
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which is distinct from the Rockefeller Institute but appears to be what the post is referencing, has debunked such claims.
From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2025
He has debunked claims that contraception makes women infertile, that only “natural” medicine can be trusted and that Tylenol is linked to autism.
From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2022
But research has debunked this method as a poor model with no basis in science, said Meghan Whittaker, director of policy for the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 7, 2019
