They're using it how it's been used for years in the skeptics community to smear alternative ideas.
I don't believe all conspiracy theories, and quacks do need to be called out as quacks - but in the same way people call conservatives "alt-right" or far-right to scare people away from legitimate debate - members of the scientific community have consistently used "debunked" to keep people from independently reviewing verboten topics.
They're using it how it's been used for years in the skeptics community to smear alternative ideas.
I don't believe all conspiracy theories, and quacks do need to be called out as quacks - but in the same way people call conservatives "alt-right" or far-right to scare people away from legitimate debate - members of the scientific community have consistently used "debunked" to keep people from independently reviewing verboten topics.
I'm not questioning or calling them out for how they use the word, I'm just pointing out why. That's more important.
I'm not questioning your observation, just finding a good comment to attach my comment to. :)