Word: debunk (verb)

Associations

"Debunk" means to show that something is not true or is wrong, especially a belief, idea, or story. It is often used when someone proves that a myth, rumor, or false claim is incorrect.

• Scientists debunked the myth that the Earth is flat. This means they showed evidence that the Earth is round.
• The journalist debunked the rumor about the celebrity. She proved it was not true.
• The documentary debunks common misconceptions about history. It corrects false ideas. A well-known synonym is "disprove." The difference is that "disprove" focuses more on showing something is false with evidence, while "debunk" often includes exposing something as false and sometimes foolish or exaggerated.

Substitution

You can use:

• disprove (focus on evidence)
• expose (focus on revealing the truth)
• refute (focus on arguing against something) Example: "The scientist disproved the theory" or "The report exposed the scam."

Deconstruction

The word "debunk" comes from:

• prefix "de-" meaning "remove" or "reverse"
• root "bunk," short for "bunkum," meaning nonsense or false talk So, "debunk" literally means to remove nonsense or false ideas.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had to debunk a false rumor or idea?
• How would you feel if someone tried to debunk something you believe in?
• What kinds of things do people often try to debunk in everyday life?