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
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
For example, opposition forces, led by Lee, have ruthlessly attacked the first lady, stirring mass protests and impugning her character.
—Victor Cha, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for impugn
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
For example, opposition forces, led by Lee, have ruthlessly attacked the first lady, stirring mass protests and impugning her character.
—Victor Cha, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
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Harry and Meghan have been criticized for making money out of projects that criticized the royal family, including through the multiyear, multimillion dollar Netflix deal that the Harry & Meghan documentary was part of.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
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The document was quickly criticized for errors and citing studies that don’t exist, as first reported by NOTUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news site.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
Verb
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India blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation rejected by Islamabad.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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Man sentenced for threatening officials DENVER -- A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for his online threats to kill Democratic election officials in Colorado and Arizona was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Dem lawmaker condemns Trump admin after staff member ends up in handcuffs.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the university’s decision to ban Vemuri from the ceremony.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Two other people connected to the case have been accused of money laundering and corruption.—
Llazar Semini,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had openly accused China of supplying Russia with weapons.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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