Word
debunk
Phoneticsde·bunk, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈbəŋk/
UK/diːbˈʌnk/
Definition
v. to show that a popular belief or idea is actually false. You use this when you prove that a story or theory is not true.
v. to expose the falseness or hollowness of a myth, idea, or belief. Often used in the context of scientific or journalistic investigation to disprove widely held misconceptions.
Examples
“The scientist wrote a book to debunk common myths about diet.”
“After the video went viral, several experts came forward to debunk the claims that it showed a real ghost.”
“While the documentary attempted to debunk the long-standing conspiracy theory, it inadvertently provided a platform for further speculation among those already inclined to distrust official narratives.”
Examples
simple
“The scientist wrote a book to debunk common myths about diet.”
contextual
“After the video went viral, several experts came forward to debunk the claims that it showed a real ghost.”
complex
“While the documentary attempted to debunk the long-standing conspiracy theory, it inadvertently provided a platform for further speculation among those already inclined to distrust official narratives.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “debunk” in context.
Verb
01. effectively debunk
“The documentary effectively debunks several common misconceptions about nutrition.”
adv + verb
02. publicly debunk
“The claims were publicly debunked by the health department in a press release.”
adv + verb
03. thoroughly debunk
“The scientist's research thoroughly debunked the long-held theory about the virus.”
adv + verb
Noun
04. debunk myth
“The article aims to debunk the myth that you need to drink eight glasses of water a day.”
verb + noun
05. debunk notion
“We need to debunk the notion that success is only down to luck.”
verb + noun
06. debunk stereotype
“The film attempts to debunk common stereotypes about rural life.”
verb + noun
07. debunk theory
“New evidence has emerged to debunk the theory of spontaneous combustion.”
verb + noun
08. completely debunk the claim
“Independent investigators were able to completely debunk the claim of election fraud.”
09. debunk a popular misconception
“His latest book seeks to debunk a popular misconception regarding the origins of the war.”
10. help to debunk the idea
“These statistics help to debunk the idea that crime is on the rise.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically an abstract noun like 'myth', 'theory', or 'claim'.
Pitfall
He debunked about the theory.
He debunked the theory.
Debunk is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“Open source intelligence researchers debunked it within hours, matching it to older satellite imagery and identifying identical visual artifacts, down to cars frozen in the same positions.” “Although the claim has been debunked since 2014, some social media users have recently been duped into thinking the report is factual.” “The BBC debunked the claim in late October and similar claims ahead of the 2008 vote, external.” “Debunking interventions to tackle misconceptions related to scientific issues have gained momentum, especially in the context of health care.” Etymology
The term was coined in 1923, formed from the prefix de-, meaning away, and bunk, a shortened form of bunkum. This latter element traces its origins to Buncombe County, North Carolina, following an 1820 congressional speech by a representative who insisted he was merely speaking to Buncombe rather than the House. What began as a geographic reference for political posturing was thus refined into a verb for the systematic removal of nonsense.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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