debunking

verb

present participle of debunk
1
as in refuting
to prove to be false a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exposing
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

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 Election officials are debunking a years-old conspiracy theory. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 He’s best known as the creator and star of the show Adam Ruins Everything — debunking cultural myths and other prevalent misconceptions — which ran for three seasons on TruTV. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 Lindsay helpfully published a list of ten resources for debunking the most persistent falsehoods related to the attacks. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 The tweet above was eventually slapped with a Community Note debunking the claims. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026 Putting These Ideas Into Practice Rein works hard at debunking neuroscience myths and telling people which brain interventions don’t actually hold up. — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Researchers found genetic traces of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of malaria — effectively debunking the longstanding poisoning theory. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debunking
  1. refuting
  2. exposing
  3. uncovering
Verb
  • While refuting any suggestion of police repression, Lecornu condemned violence on the margins of protests, which were mostly peaceful Tuesday, despite the dramatic scenes that dominated coverage.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • However, in July, Wayne released a message refuting reports of an engagement, referring to a relationship with someone in the past tense, albeit without mentioning them by name.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of refuting
Verb
  • The cover lifts up and back, exposing the build platform, resin tank, and vertical motion system with generous access from the front and sides.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Defensively, Jacksonville State presented FIU with its toughest test of the season, exposing vulnerabilities in a Panthers defense that entered the game ranked among the nation’s top 10.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of exposing
Verb
  • The book covers an enormous chunk of British screen history (1896 to 2001), with each chapter uncovering and illuminating the careers of early Black screen pioneers.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI solved the million-dollar problem by uncovering a flaw in the equations.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncovering

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debunked
debunking
debunks
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Cite this Entry

“Debunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debunking. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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