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
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
The duel did not happen because a Parisian layman’s jury ruled that Drayton couldn’t legally say he was impugned by Mr. Borrowe, so Drayton instead fled Europe by buying passage on the steamship Majestic at Liverpool.
—Alexis Nedd, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
Who suspected the argument would impugn the motives and integrity of the artists who made it?
—Armond White, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
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
The duel did not happen because a Parisian layman’s jury ruled that Drayton couldn’t legally say he was impugned by Mr. Borrowe, so Drayton instead fled Europe by buying passage on the steamship Majestic at Liverpool.
—Alexis Nedd, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
Who suspected the argument would impugn the motives and integrity of the artists who made it?
—Armond White, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
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Since last fall, the Media Research Center, a right-wing organization that criticizes legacy media outlets, has turned its attention on Apple News’ story selection.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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While the vote was unanimous, Trustee Jamela Smith-Folds criticized the majority of her colleagues who approved new contracts with two of the district’s labor groups, United Teachers of Richmond and Teamsters Local 856, the union representing custodial staff, cafeteria workers and others.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There will be lawyers and billable hours, and blame tossed around.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Alongside Palasciano, speakers assailed the influx of Indian Americans, from accusing them of snatching the American Dream to criticizing their driving skills and even blaming them for traffic.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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China denounced her and demanded a retraction.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
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Members of Boss' family publicly denounced Holker's choice to write about him in social media posts.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Yoon’s shocking declaration revived dark memories of the country’s authoritarian past, plunged South Korea into a constitutional crisis and was widely condemned as striking at the heart of the nation’s democracy.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, strongly condemned the decision and said officials from the country would not take part in any Paralympic events, though Ukrainian athletes would still compete.—
Mariia Kashchenko,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Similarly, federal prosecutors have lost all five cases accusing protesters of assaulting federal officers that have gone to trial in the Los Angeles area, according to data from the US attorney’s office there as of earlier this month.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The city of Malibu sued the state and the city and county of Los Angeles and other entities on Wednesday, accusing them of various failures that led to the start and proliferation of the Palisades fire that destroyed hundreds of Malibu homes along with municipal facilities and infrastructure.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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