DEBUNKING Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

debunking

verb

present participle of debunk

as in refuting

to prove to be false a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exposing

to reveal the true nature of the investigative reporter easily debunked the charlatan's claims of clairvoyance

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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.

Recent Examples of debunking How the conspiracy ecosystem jumped on hantavirus Epidemiologist Katrine Wallace has built a large social media audience by debunking medical misinformation in real time. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 11 May 2026 Once someone has formed an opinion, debunking their belief can backfire, driving them to commit even more strongly to their mistake. — Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026 This is one of the most critical details in debunking the claim. — Ryan Brennan april 1, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026 Certainly, the association with Jeffrey Epstein is not especially helpful for debunking something nefarious. — Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026 Since the 1990s, neuroscientists have accumulated evidence debunking this idea. — Alicia Garceau, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026 Consensus Drives Stability I’m debunking the belief that stability comes from consensus. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026 After stirring the pot on social media, Lisa Rinna is debunking the rumor that Colton Underwood stormed out of The Traitors reunion. — Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 State officials later visited many of the facilities, debunking Shirley’s claims. — St. John Barned-Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunking

Verb

Many d This week, the department issued a follow-up statement refuting both of those claims.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
The distant thud of shelling punctuates the evening, refuting one guest’s optimism that the latest ceasefire agreement will endure.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Definition of refuting

Verb

Saudi Arabia’s catastrophic military intervention in Yemen from 2015 to 2022 ended in abject failure by all accounts, exposing the kingdom as the paper tiger of the Middle East.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 July 2026
The California rapper-producer’s new album sifts through an eclectic pileup of influences with X-ray vision, exposing his artistic process and still keeping it breezy.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026

Definition of exposing

Verb

This rich, yet often underknown history—quite literally buried beneath New York’s surface—is what Alan Michelson has spent the last 40 years uncovering.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026
For years, Deborah Witzburg sounded the loudest alarm when uncovering hundreds of cases of corruption and fraud inside Chicago city government.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of uncovering

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debunking

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“Debunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunking. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of debunking

verb

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