as in criticized
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 impugned
But the Pentagon’s representatives seemed to feel impugned.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
So the markets are the ultimate arbiter of over whether the Fed’s independence is being impugned.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
So the markets are the ultimate arbiter of over whether the Fed’s independence is being impugned.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugned
Verb
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Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father and a physician, criticized the medical establishment for being closed-minded about treatments recommended by non-physicians.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Glendon Hall, who leads the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee, criticized the police at the time.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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State Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch blamed senate Republicans for failing to pass higher raises for teachers.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Ackman blamed its poor share price performance partly on the delay of UMG’s listing in the United States.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Later, some passengers were forced to get off buses as protesters denounced the government’s fuel price increase.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
During his first Palm Sunday address, the pontiff denounced those who use God to justify war and urged prayers for peace, particularly for those suffering in the Middle East.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The president has been condemned for his remarks about Iran and Islam by groups that include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who called them inflammatory.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
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Protect Martindale-Brightwood, one of the neighborhood groups against the data center, on Monday condemned the act of violence at Gibson's home and denied any involvement.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Although the father wasn't told of the outcome, the older child accused of the abuse was removed from that foster program, according to the lawsuit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The father, whom Seth does not know, accused him of taking pics of his teenager.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gilbert appealed Wilson’s ruling; however, in December 2024, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel turned down Gilbert’s appeal, per Courthouse News Service.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The White House appealed to the Supreme Court, and now the high court has agreed to examine the appeal.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impugned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugned. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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