debunkv.
/dɪˈbʌŋk/ Originally U.S.
transitive. To remove the ‘nonsense’ or false sentiment from; to expose (false claims or pretensions); hence, to remove (a person) from his ‘pedestal’ or ‘pinnacle’. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > what is bad
expose1693
satirize1798
to show up1893
spotlight1913
debunk1923
to name and shame1978
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > detract from [verb (transitive)] > expose false claims or pretensions
to show up1893
deflate1920
debunk1923
1923 W. E. Woodward Bunk i. 4 To keep the United States thoroughly de-bunked would require the continual services of..half a million persons.
1923 W. E. Woodward Bunk i. 4 Just how do you go about your de-bunking operations?
1923 W. E. Woodward Bunk i. 6 Recently we de-bunked the head of a large financial institution.
1927 Daily Express 21 Nov. 2/3 The Thucydidean school of what are known as ‘debunking’ historians.
1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 6 Mar. 174 The present fashion for ‘debunking’ great men.
1934 Municipal Engineering 12 July 31/1 The London C.C. has decided to ‘debunk’ Waterloo Bridge, or, in other words, to take away the bunkum that has been attached to it.
1948 Sat. Rev. 26 June 13/1 In dealing with military reputations, the author neither glorifies nor debunks.
1958 Spectator 13 June 777/1 It is his duty..to debunk the claims of the Fabians.
Derivatives
deˈbunker n. one who debunks.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > [noun] > bringing into disrepute > exposure of false claims or pretensions > one who
debunker1923
1923 W. E. Woodward Bunk i. 2 I'm a professional de-bunker.
1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 13 Mar. 217 He is not indeed a ‘debunker’, but he is as far from being a blind hero-worshipper.
1940 Illustr. London News 196 758/2 In fact, he is a reverent man, who enjoys ‘debunking’ the ‘debunkers’, if that word may be taken now as acceptable and established English.
1960 Guardian 10 Dec. 5/3 No cynic, but a debunker.
deˈbunking n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [adjective] > exposing false pretensions
debunking1923
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > [adjective] > exposing false claims or pretensions
debunking1923
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > [noun] > bringing into disrepute > exposure of false claims or pretensions
show-up1824
showing up1835
debunking1923
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [noun] > a disclosure > of something discreditable > action of
debunking1923
1923 W. E. Woodward Bunk i. 2 De-bunking means simply taking the bunk out of things.
1927 Brit. Weekly 29 Dec. 327/2 The somewhat ruthless process which in America is called ‘debunking’—that is, pricking pretentious bubbles [etc.].
1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 8 May 378 The aim of ‘debunking’ a reputation that has been swollen by the uncritical eulogies of contemporaries.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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