# debunk

> English word · Verb · IPA /diːˈbʌŋk/ · frequency rank #42,594

## Definitions
1. To discredit, or expose to ridicule the falsehood or the exaggerated claims of something.

## Etymology
From de- (“away”) + bunk (“nonsense”) (from bunkum, from Buncombe County) 1923.

## Easily confused with
- **dunk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debunk-vs-dunk)
- **drunk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debunk-vs-drunk)
- **debut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debunk-vs-debut)
- **debuts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debunk-vs-debuts)
- **debug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debug-vs-debunk)

## Common misspellings (9)
`dbeunk`, `ddebunk`, `debbunk`, `debnuk`, `debukn`, `debunkk`, `debunnk`, `deubnk`, `edbunk`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/debunk