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.
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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
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Wolves coach Chris Finch criticized his team’s lack of composure.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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One of the easier things to do is criticize without offering solutions.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In response to industry commentators blaming aggressive patent litigation for companies disabling HEVC support, Nokia’s rep said that third-party streaming services and hardware wouldn’t work as expected without Nokia’s research and development.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
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Who one blames depends on their politics.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump was forced to denounce it.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Both Mexico City and Guadalajara are preparing to host World Cup games in June, with protesters in both cities denouncing the government's failure to properly investigate the disappearances.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In an emotional news conference Monday, city and state officials condemned the bloodshed and called on community members to advocate for victims of domestic violence.—
Ryan Chandler,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
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And European moves to condemn or sanction some Israeli actions frequently had been vetoed by Orban.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police have arrested a former Azle High School special education teacher accused of assaulting a student after an incident reported on campus earlier this month.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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The man accused of carrying out a deadly string of seemingly random shootings in the Atlanta suburbs, including the killing of a Department of Homeland Security employee walking her dog, has died in jail before authorities could determine a motive.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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