as in to criticize
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impugn
And all this week, Trump’s White House has savaged the reputation and impugned the integrity of Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, whose accidental inclusion on the national-security adviser’s group chat became the basis of Signalgate.
—
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Rather, it is being used to impugn Baldoni's character and demonstrate malicious intent on his part.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The issue here is not to impugn the individual Catholics who are decent people and who contribute to a more just society.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Targets often accuse short sellers of impugning their reputation for financial gain.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Rather, it is being used to impugn Baldoni's character and demonstrate malicious intent on his part.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The issue here is not to impugn the individual Catholics who are decent people and who contribute to a more just society.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Targets often accuse short sellers of impugning their reputation for financial gain.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
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The end of the parole program is part of Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration paths that allow people to temporarily come to the U.S. Republicans also criticized the parole program as an overreach and abuse of executive presidential power.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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Progressives are criticizing tariffs for boosting prices and triggering international chaos.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Trump's tariffs were partly to blame for price increases that had taken place in February.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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They are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The decision was condemned by civil society groups such as SECTION 2, which advocates for domestic ownership.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2025
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The White House visit is a significant achievement for Bukele, whose authoritarian tactics to remain in power were condemned by the Biden administration just a few years ago.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pruitt was accused of multiple recruiting violations linked to the football program and failure to supervise, with allegations of recruits receiving extra benefits in violation of NCAA rules.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The dispute began with a lawsuit by Venezuelans who said they were wrongly accused and on the verge of being deported and sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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