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
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
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugned
Verb
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No less than a half-dozen GOP senators publicly criticized the Department of Justice for investigating Powell over Hill testimony last year about the Fed headquarters’ renovation.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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The federal government has stepped up operations in Chicago and the Twin Cities, both Democratic strongholds, during the fall and local officials have criticized them for sowing chaos and confusion.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thai authorities are now investigating the incident, which follows a series of other fatal accidents which have been blamed on safty lapses, the BBC reported.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Ground beef price spike is blamed on several factors, most prevalent weather and drought.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The song’s massive popularity drew the public ire of Nicolás Maduro, who started a new administration facing international pressure after opposition denounced the 2024 elections result as fraudulent.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
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Top Republican lawmakers issued rare rebukes of the president over the action, which was also denounced by every living former Fed chair.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moments later, Frey strongly condemned the incident to CNN’s Jake Tapper and urged ICE officers to get out of Minneapolis.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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The incident was also condemned by Brandenburg’s Minister-President Dietmar Woidke and Interior Minister Rene Wilke, who are both members of the social-democratic SPD party.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Adolescence follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is accused and arrested for murdering a teenage girl in his class.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Right Arrow The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican parties' headquarters five years ago pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Friday.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 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
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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 15 Jan. 2026.
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