debunking

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The act of showing that a widely believed idea or claim is false or exaggerated.

   Grammar: Used as a noun, often with 'of': the debunking of a myth.

   Patterns

   • the debunking of something
   • a debunking of something

   Her book is a careful debunking of the diet industry's biggest promises.

   The debunking of that old story took years of research.

   He spent the evening on the debunking of common health myths.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Present participle of 'debunk': proving that a claim or belief is false.

   Grammar: Needs an object: debunking a myth, debunking claims.

   Patterns

   • debunking something
   • debunking the idea that …

   She is debunking the rumor that the factory is closing.

   Scientists keep debunking the claim that the vaccine causes illness.

Word forms

Common combinations

myth debunking

The podcast is famous for its myth debunking.

debunking a claim

They wrote a report debunking the claim about the missing money.

widely debunked

That theory has been widely debunked by experts.

debunking session

After the experiment failed, the team held a debunking session.

Synonyms and how they differ

disproving

Stronger and more formal; it means showing something is definitely wrong, while 'debunking' often targets popular beliefs.

exposing

Focuses on revealing something hidden or dishonest, not just proving it false.

refuting

More academic; used for arguments and evidence rather than jokes or rumors.

Opposites

Word family

debunk verb

To show that a claim or belief is false.

debunker noun

A person who exposes false claims.

debunked adjective

Shown to be false, as in 'a debunked theory'.

Commonly confused: debunking or debugging?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “debunking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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