Fake News vs Truth

Mackenzie S. (United States of America)
10 words 30 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. debunk
    expose while ridiculing
    Some people who retweeted fake-news posts may have added comments to debunk them.
  2. backfire
    return with an undesired effect
    Sometimes the tactic could even backfire.
  3. phony
    fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
    A new study shows that on Twitter, phony stories reach more people than truthful ones do.
  4. misinterpret
    construe in the wrong way
    Fake news refers to stories based on false or misinterpreted information.
  5. dupe
    fool or hoax
    These stories try to dupe readers into believing something that isn’t true.
  6. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    Instead, people are the main culprits in retweeting fake news.
  7. discredit
    the state of being held in low esteem
    Others might try to discredit scientific findings.
  8. systematic
    characterized by order and planning
    Until now, he says, “We didn’t have a really large-scale, systematic study evaluating the spread of misinformation.”
  9. tactic
    a plan for attaining a particular goal
    Sometimes the tactic could even backfire.
  10. repute
    the state of being held in high esteem and honor
    Platforms also might try to restrict accounts reputed to spread lies, Aral says.
Created on Wed Jan 14 12:35:45 EST 2026 (updated Wed Jan 14 14:18:33 EST 2026)

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