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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Other candidates have criticized her and expressed their support for LGBTQ+ students — Rendon perhaps most pointedly.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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Owens, who has frequently criticized Hunter Biden and his family over his business dealings, drug addiction, and the controversy surrounding his laptop, previewed a wide-ranging discussion touching on addiction, politics, faith, and Washington’s political culture.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The president blamed him for a massive sewage spill and excluded him from a historically bipartisan governors' meeting at the White House.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
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The drought is being blamed for an increase in bear sightings around Arvada, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Human rights group Foro Penal denounced the government’s account as misleading.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
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The Sacramento City Council restored funding to a youth violence prevention grant and vowed to keep pools open after residents denounced cutting services to plug a $66 million budget deficit.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The attack was swiftly condemned by mediator Pakistan and other countries.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
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The property has a hazardous history — with more than 50 code violations cited in the last five years and the property was condemned at least one other time, according to city documents.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In 2025, another woman accused McGregor of assaulting her in a men’s restroom at the Kaseya Center after Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2023.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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The medical providers Cole and Mosley accused denied wrongdoing.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Louisiana appealed to our court and sought a stay pending appeal.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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But then federal prosecutors appealed a judge's decision granting him bond with electronic monitoring, and the judge agreed Friday to put it on hold while that appeal plays out.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugned. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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