debunk
verb (used with object)
to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated.
have debunked
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present perfectof debunk.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.
Several fact-checking organisations, including AFP's digital verification team, have debunked these images.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
“It’s about your quality of life, it’s about what you put in your body, it’s about your wellness journey — we have debunked this before,” Rivera said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2025
Mr. Kennedy has long asserted that the measles vaccine causes autism, but the CDC page doesn’t go that far, perhaps because so many studies have debunked the claim.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 23, 2025
Two Australian mathematicians say they have debunked an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2024
Officials on both sides of the aisle have debunked these claims repeatedly.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2024
