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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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
  1. criticizing
  2. blaming
  3. denouncing
  4. accusing
  5. condemning
Verb
  • As public support for Clancy grew by the day, online sleuths went to work challenging the prosecution’s narrative, closely scrutinizing witnesses and criticizing authorities for not investigating certain details more aggressively.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Some fans viewed the collaboration cynically, criticizing it as a way for Beyoncé to capitalize on Selena’s legacy, or to court more Latino fans.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticizing
Verb
  • Looming over it all is billionaire Matthew Prince, a Park City resident who had expressed frustrations with how Vail Resorts has operated its Park City property, blaming Vail CEO Rob Katz for the company’s financial troubles.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There have been major protests in Spain in response to the migrant arrivals, with critics blaming the Sánchez government for its handling of the crisis, and his political opponents accusing him of pandering to Morocco.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • There’s the Luddite Club, which last fall used a seventy-year-old typewriter to make a poster denouncing the school’s decision to offer students ChatGPT and Google Gemini subscriptions.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was blindsided on Tuesday when two members of his caucus voted with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to put a resolution denouncing socialism on the floor for a full vote.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of denouncing
Verb
  • Ruto reportedly made the remarks last week, days before ordering Tata Chemicals to leave the country, accusing it of failing to create jobs and process minerals locally.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • While fending off criticisms over his handling of the bridge, McKee has gone on the attack, accusing Foulkes as an out-of-touch corporate executive trying to buy her way into the election.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of accusing
Verb
  • The commissioner formally apologized to players in 2024 for not sufficiently condemning, during an appearance on CNBC, hate speech around the league.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Nearly 1,000 entertainment figures signed a letter condemning Ruffalo’s remarks, while more than 180 Jewish artists, writers and academics, including Joel Coen, Tony Kushner, Hannah Einbinder and Todd Haynes, signed a separate letter defending him.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemning

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Cite this Entry

“Impugning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugning. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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