Editing Debunker (section)

{{Short description|Person or group discrediting false claims}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{wiktionary|debunk}}

A '''debunker''' is a person or organization that exposes or discredits claims believed to be false, exaggerated, or pretentious.<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Debunker|title=Debunker|access-date=2007-09-26|work=Dictionary.com Unabridged}} "to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated: to debunk advertising slogans."</ref> The term is often associated with [[scientific skepticism|skeptical investigation]] of controversial topics such as [[Unidentified flying object|UFOs]], claimed [[paranormal]] phenomena, [[cryptid]]s, [[conspiracy theories]], [[alternative medicine]], [[religion]], exploratory or [[fringe science|fringe]] areas of scientific, or [[pseudoscientific]] research.

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, to "debunk" is defined as: "to expose the sham or falseness of."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debunk|website=Merriam-webster.com|title=Definition of debunk|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> The  ''[[New Oxford American Dictionary]]'' defines "debunk" as "expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief)".<ref>''The New Oxford American Dictionary'', second edition, 2005</ref>

If debunkers are not careful, their communications may backfire – increasing an audience's long-term belief in myths. Backfire effects can occur if a message spends too much time on the negative case, if it is too complex, or if the message is threatening.<ref name=DHand/>