impeach

¹im·peach

verb \im-ˈpēch\

Definition of IMPEACH

transitive verb

1

a : to bring an accusation against b : to charge with a crime or misdemeanor; specifically : to charge (a public official) before a competent tribunal with misconduct in office c : to remove from office especially for misconduct

2

: to cast doubt on; especially : to challenge the credibility or validity of <impeach the testimony of a witness>

— im·peach·able \-ˈpē-chə-bəl\ adjective

— im·peach·ment \-ˈpēch-mənt\ noun

Examples of IMPEACH

1. Congress will vote on whether or not to impeach the President.
2. The defense lawyers tried to impeach the witness's testimony by forcing him to admit that he had changed his story.

Origin of IMPEACH

Middle English empechen, from Anglo-French empecher, enpechier to ensnare, impede, prosecute, from Late Latin impedicare to fetter, from Latin in- + pedica fetter, from ped-, pes foot — more at foot

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to IMPEACH

Synonyms: charge, criminate, defame [archaic], accuse, incriminate, indict

Antonyms: absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

Related Words: blame, call (on), castigate, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, fault, impugn, reproach, reprobate; chide, rebuke, reprove, tax; appeal, arraign, book, cite, summon; prosecute, sue, try; frame, implicate, inculpate, inform (against), name, report; recriminate, retaliate

Near Antonyms: advocate, champion, defend; excuse, forgive, justify, pardon, remit, shrive

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with IMPEACH

beseech, forereach, free beach, free speech, Long Beach, outreach, unteach