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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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

On Friday, the pope strongly reiterated the Church's pro-life teachings, criticizing initiatives to allow assisted dying for those who have incurable illnesses.

— Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
The exchange sparked a range of reactions in the comments, with some viewers criticizing Langley’s response.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticizing

Verb

During the debate, both candidates seemed prepared to focus on the lack of affordability — namely by blaming the other’s political party for it.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
The Variable To Watch This is, admittedly, a less exciting explanation than blaming the market.

— Khalifa Aldhaheri, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

French President Emanuel Macron delivered a briefing to the candidates running to succeed him so disturbing that even the far-right National Rally’s leaders emerged denouncing Russian hybrid attacks.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
El-Sayed's campaign sent a reporter a question asking if Rogers, given his comments about denouncing terrorists, planned to publicly denounce the remark.

— Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of denouncing

Verb

Rather than accusing him of entering Moïse’s residence or firing a weapon, prosecutors portrayed him as a Sanon supporter who provided resources for the operation and stood to benefit from the government that conspirators hoped to install afterward.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu correctly states that accusing Israel of genocide is the greatest lie of this century.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of accusing

Verb

After Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz joined Bermudez in condemning the county’s pursuit of Vice City promotions, multiple commissioners asked why they haven’t been asked to approve marketing agreements with Rockstar.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Incumbent Michael Vargas, Thomson’s opponent, released a statement on his campaign Facebook page Monday condemning the use of slurs.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of condemning

Browse Nearby Words

impugned

impugning

impugns

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Impugning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugning. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of impugning

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tittle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes