IMPUGNING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

impugning

verb

present participle of impugn

as in criticizing

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impugning 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugning

Verb

Multiple Republicans brought up Bottoms during the debate when criticizing their GOP opponent.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Raman brought up Gates briefly while criticizing the mayor over the Los Angeles Police Department’s handling of federal immigration enforcement during Tuesday night’s debate.

— David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizing

Verb

The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

But critics, like the Civic Federation, are denouncing the budget plan, calling it an unacceptable abdication of responsibility to meet the fiscal realities facing the city.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
What began with peaceful protests by high school students demanding better conditions at schools has morphed into roiling protests nationwide denouncing rising living costs and inequities in French society.

— Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of denouncing

Verb

Then on Friday, the defendants filed a motion seeking to disqualify Reyes, accusing her of bias.

— Andrew Limbong, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
Bill Essayli re-shared Garcia’s post with a statement accusing the Congress member of encouraging people to obstruct the work of ICE agents.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of accusing

Verb

The brazen, unmasked calls to erase Israel triggered fierce bipartisan backlash from lawmakers condemning the rising wave of open extremism.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Reddit users have been posting about the problem, and condemning Sega and the game’s developer, Creative Assembly.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemning

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impugned

impugning

impugns

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“Impugning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugning. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impugning

verb

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