1
as in to refute
to prove to be false
a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends
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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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Recent Examples of debunk
French researcher Thibault Le Texier has been a major force behind debunking the experiment's methodology and conclusions.
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Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The prospect of Kennedy leading the country’s health agencies has struck fear among public health experts, particularly due to his leading role in promoting vaccine skepticism and debunked claims about immunizations.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Photo shows newborn who went missing in 2020, not recent case
USA TODAY has debunked similar claims in the past, including false assertions that serial killers were targeting women in Texas, New Jersey and Ohio.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Trending news reporter Diana Leyva debunked the wild rumors that Disney was headed to Tennessee.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debunk 
Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The prospect of Kennedy leading the country’s health agencies has struck fear among public health experts, particularly due to his leading role in promoting vaccine skepticism and debunked claims about immunizations.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Photo shows newborn who went missing in 2020, not recent case
USA TODAY has debunked similar claims in the past, including false assertions that serial killers were targeting women in Texas, New Jersey and Ohio.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Trending news reporter Diana Leyva debunked the wild rumors that Disney was headed to Tennessee.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunk
Verb
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Lori Robertson, director of the nonpartisan website FactCheck.org, which also partnered with Meta, also refuted Zuckerberg's notion that fact-checking contributed to a suppression of opinion.Kate Gibson, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2025
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In 2011, his former Minister of Justice directly refuted the previous statements, claiming that Gaddafi directly ordered the bombing.Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Despite The Doors' popularity, Morrison faced a tarnished reputation after exposing himself at a Miami concert in March 1969.Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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The half-acre property features the one-bedroom historic home, which has been preserved with original period details like a Rumford cooking fireplace, exposed beams, wide-plank hardwood floors, and windows.Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With research from the Manhattan Institute showing that police slow, prevent or uncover more serious crimes by taking all routine precautions, about 45% of all crimes reported ended in arrest, marking the second-highest rate in the past decade.Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Jan. 2025
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Sure enough, the villagers uncover one of the creatures and slay it by using a stake.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Debunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunk. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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