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
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.
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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
This isn’t an attempt to ban speech, or impugn anyone’s First Amendment rights.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for impugn
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
This isn’t an attempt to ban speech, or impugn anyone’s First Amendment rights.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for impugn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugn
Verb
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While Chiuri has been criticized by some for playing it safe with commercial collections that helped to turbocharge Dior’s growth, Prigent gradually understood her messaging is anything but conservative.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
27 Feb. 2025
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Some party leaders have been criticized for using Nazi slogans and downplaying the Holocaust.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Democratic establishment’s focus on blaming Trump for those price spikes represents a stark break from its activists, who have launched a protest movement arguing that Trump is a budding dictator with no regard for the Constitution.—
Steve Peoples,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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Recently, however, doctors have started reporting more cases of iodine-deficient hypothyroidism—and our salt preferences may be at least partially to blame.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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House Majority Leader Matt Moonen condemned Libby in a statement on the House floor.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
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In an extraordinary illustration of the re-alignment on Ukraine, the U.S. sided with Russia in a vote against a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia, which passed on Monday with the support of the U.S.' traditional Western allies.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of walking away from negotiations -- rejecting the speaker’s characterization of the situation.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2025
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That complaint also accuses Panama Ports Company of not paying taxes and social security contributions.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impugn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugn. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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