debunk
verb
de·bunk
(ˌ)dē-ˈbəŋk 
debunked; debunking; debunks
: to expose the sham (see sham entry 1 sense 2) or falseness of
debunk a legend
debunker
noun
Did you know?
To debunk something is to take the bunk out of it—that bunk being nonsense. (Bunk is short for the synonymous bunkum, which has political origins.) Debunk has been in use since at least the 1920s, and it contrasts with synonyms like disprove and rebut by suggesting that something is not merely untrue but is also a sham—a trick meant to deceive. One can simply disprove a myth, but if it is debunked, the implication is that the myth was a grossly exaggerated or foolish claim.
Examples of debunk in a Sentence
The article debunks the notion that life exists on Mars.
The results of the study debunk his theory.
Recent Examples on the Web
His rigged election claims have been thoroughly debunked over and over again, ad nauseam.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
This canard has been repeatedly debunked by historians and repeatedly invoked by Owens.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Modern evolutionary biology and genomics debunk that flawed perspective, showing there is no hierarchy in evolution.
—Kevin Omland, The Conversation, 9 Feb. 2026
Trump’s election comment came in an interview Monday with a conservative podcaster and the Republican president reaffirmed his position in Oval Office remarks the next day, citing fraud allegations that numerous audits, investigations and courts have debunked.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
This canard has been repeatedly debunked by historians and repeatedly invoked by Owens.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Modern evolutionary biology and genomics debunk that flawed perspective, showing there is no hierarchy in evolution.
—Kevin Omland, The Conversation, 9 Feb. 2026
Trump’s election comment came in an interview Monday with a conservative podcaster and the Republican president reaffirmed his position in Oval Office remarks the next day, citing fraud allegations that numerous audits, investigations and courts have debunked.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debunk. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
