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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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
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugning
Verb
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The four leaders have also angered Trump by criticizing how he’s gone about executing the war and his lack of consultation with allies before jumping into a conflict that’s hurt the global economy as oil prices have surged.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
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The four leaders have also angered Trump by criticizing how he's gone about executing the war and his lack of consultation with allies before jumping into a conflict that's hurt the global economy as oil prices have surged.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Rodrigo eventually countered that her detractors were blaming the wrong person.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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On Thursday, the company was sued by a Canadian blaming the chatbot for her daughter’s decision to hang herself.—
Bernard Condon,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Resolutions passed on immigration and political violence Later Wednesday, SBC messengers approved a resolutions denouncing political violence and hateful speech.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Overnight, Musk reposted many social media messages denouncing the state of the United Kingdom.—
Henry Austin,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges Williams made defamatory statements falsely accusing her of criminal conduct, including embezzlement, during his time as Opa-locka city manager before he was terminated by the city commission in 2024.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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But the film received criticism in the aftermath of its release, with some naysayers accusing it of being alarmist or exaggerated.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Oak Park officials issued a statement condemning antisemitism on Thursday after a home was vandalized with an antisemitic message.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
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The Art Directors Guild released a statement on social media on Tuesday condemning Martin Scorsese’s recent partnership with AI startup Black Forest Labs.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugning. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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