as in to criticize
formal
to criticize (a person's character, intentions, etc.) by suggesting that someone is not honest and should not be trusted
He impugned his rival's character. Her motives have been scrutinized and impugned.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impugn
So the markets are the ultimate arbiter of over whether the Fed’s independence is being impugned.
—
NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Paltrow gives a curiously pulseless performance that might have impugned some of her blossoming star power had Hush opened when it was supposed to.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2025
The school board argued that Pickering’s statements were false and that the reputation of the district and its employees had been impugned.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Ehlers’ duty as a public official includes upholding and respecting the legal process, not impugning it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Paltrow gives a curiously pulseless performance that might have impugned some of her blossoming star power had Hush opened when it was supposed to.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2025
The school board argued that Pickering’s statements were false and that the reputation of the district and its employees had been impugned.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Ehlers’ duty as a public official includes upholding and respecting the legal process, not impugning it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
-
An ardent supporter of military action against Iran, Graham criticized Israel in a social media post on Sunday regarding the strikes on the oil facilities.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, federal health officials criticized Democrats broadly, arguing that blue states are participating in fraud and mismanagement of federal funds in public health programs.—
Angela Hart,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump officials blame the previous administration for leaving a backlog of complaints.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Video calls freeze, streams buffer, and suddenly everyone in the house is blaming the router.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The general public, women’s rights groups and public figures including ministers Anielle Franco and Sonia Guajajara took to social media to denounce the incident.—
Eléonore Hughes,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The chat, which was denounced by the state GOP, involved students and several top conservative leaders at Florida International University, according to the Miami Herald, which viewed and independently verified the conversations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He should be praised, not condemned.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Banned by more than 120 nations under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, the weapons are widely condemned for their broad-area, indiscriminate effects that often result in catastrophic civilian harm.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2013, Ricks killed his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son in a Bedford apartment to eliminate them as witnesses in a then-pending assault case in which he was accused of strangling her.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
-
After many of them, Trump officials moved quickly to justify the shooting and accuse the victim of attacking agents, all before an investigation had taken place.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
