Debunked: meaning, definitions and examples
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debunked
[ dɪˈbʌŋkt ]
disprove claims
To debunk something means to expose its falseness or hollowness. It is often used in the context of disproving myths, misconceptions, or exaggerated claims.
Synonyms
debate, disconfirm, disprove, invalidate, refute.
Examples of usage
- The scientist debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
- She debunked the popular belief that humans only use 10% of their brains.
- The article debunked the claims made by the conspiracy theorists.
- His research aims to debunk several common misconceptions about climate change.
Translations
Translations of the word "debunked" in other languages:
🇵🇹 refutado
🇮🇳 खारिज किया गया
🇩🇪 widerlegt
🇮🇩 dibantah
🇺🇦 спростований
🇵🇱 obalony
🇯🇵 反証された
🇫🇷 démystifié
🇪🇸 refutado
🇹🇷 çürütülmüş
🇰🇷 반박된
🇸🇦 مُفَنَّد
🇨🇿 vyvrácený
🇸🇰 vyvrátený
🇨🇳 驳斥的
🇸🇮 ovržen
🇮🇸 sýnt í sundur
🇰🇿 жойылған
🇬🇪 დარღვეული
🇦🇿 təkzib edilmiş
🇲🇽 desmentido
Etymology
The term 'debunk' originated in the early 20th century, with its first usage attributed to the American humorist William Woodward, who used it in his 1923 book 'Dumbbells and the Old Folks.' The word is a combination of the prefix 'de-' indicating removal or reversal, and 'bunk,' a slang term meaning nonsense or rubbish. The term gained popularity during the rise of critical thinking and skepticism movements, especially against pseudoscience and superstitions. Over the decades, 'debunk' has evolved to become associated with the exposure of deception or falsehoods in various spheres, including media, politics, and health claims. Today, it is widely used in contexts where misinformation needs to be clarified or corrected.