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.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impugn
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
If Scarborough is just going to continue to channel the deep state’s refusal to accept the right of Trump to staff his administration by trying to impugn those picks, he’s learned nothing about why so many have such contempt for the legacy media.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Dec. 2024
The positions were clear with every track: Drake was contending with the envy of his peers for his reign on top of the charts despite years of supporting them as collaborators and impugning Kendrick’s credibility as an arbiter of cultural purity and Black pride.
—Shamira Ibrahim, refinery29.com, 9 May 2024
The case would pit Jones and her far-right supporters against the president and his formidable legal and political teams; Clinton allies would use a volley of innuendo to try to impugn Jones’s reputation and undermine her charges.
—David Friend, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Victor Cha, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
If Scarborough is just going to continue to channel the deep state’s refusal to accept the right of Trump to staff his administration by trying to impugn those picks, he’s learned nothing about why so many have such contempt for the legacy media.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Dec. 2024
The positions were clear with every track: Drake was contending with the envy of his peers for his reign on top of the charts despite years of supporting them as collaborators and impugning Kendrick’s credibility as an arbiter of cultural purity and Black pride.
—Shamira Ibrahim, refinery29.com, 9 May 2024
The case would pit Jones and her far-right supporters against the president and his formidable legal and political teams; Clinton allies would use a volley of innuendo to try to impugn Jones’s reputation and undermine her charges.
—David Friend, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
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In a 1907 essay, the writer Ito Sakon criticized the idea of escaping the hot urban summer, instead presenting the heat as an opportunity for self-improvement.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Mar. 2025
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The choice was criticized by many actors with dwarfism, including actress Ali Chapman.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Losing at home to Tennessee, even with a backup quarterback, and at home to Arizona cannot be blamed entirely on the front office.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
19 Mar. 2025
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Neighbors blame that for a host of health issues stemming from noise pollution caused by fans cooling the mine’s thousands of computers.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The rhetoric Trump used against him was so extreme, even the Justice Roberts condemned him!—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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Immediately, a slew of over 400 A-list Hollywood power players condemned such an action.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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