1
as in to refute
to prove to be false
a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expose
to reveal the true nature of
the investigative reporter easily debunked the charlatan's claims of clairvoyance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debunk
The bromide has been debunked, but there is power — and delight — in making coffee shop drinks at home.
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Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
New research debunks the notion that the gender gap is primarily due to women’s lack of AI skills, interest or access.
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Michelle Travis,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Their wedding was initially speculated to be taking place in Rhode Island, though this was later debunked.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
25 June 2026
In a demonstration ahead of the product’s launch, NewsGuard COO Matt Skibinski showed how the chatbot debunked a piece of medical misinformation and guided the user to primary sources.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
New research debunks the notion that the gender gap is primarily due to women’s lack of AI skills, interest or access.
—
Michelle Travis,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Their wedding was initially speculated to be taking place in Rhode Island, though this was later debunked.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
25 June 2026
In a demonstration ahead of the product’s launch, NewsGuard COO Matt Skibinski showed how the chatbot debunked a piece of medical misinformation and guided the user to primary sources.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
Verb
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Two other retired judges later published their own piece refuting Gilliard’s contention.
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Fortunately, video replay allows people to validate—or refute—a referee’s decision.
Verb
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The team’s findings suggest that crushing concrete and exposing it to air during recycling or shallow burial could dramatically improve its ability to immobilize radioactive contaminants.
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Rinse the blueberries under cold running water, gently swishing them around with your hands to ensure all the berries are exposed to water.
Verb
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And it’s left to the person it’s aimed at to disprove the association — after a bell has been rung that cannot be unrung.
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And more recently, a new general-purpose AI system from OpenAI disproved an important conjecture in combinatorial geometry.
Verb
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Astronomers have uncovered a pair of giant planets that are lighter than cotton candy — super-puffs the size of Jupiter.
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The search uncovered 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites, in various stages of decomposition.
Verb
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Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
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This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.
Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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