as in criticized
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 impugned
But the Pentagon’s representatives seemed to feel impugned.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
So the markets are the ultimate arbiter of over whether the Fed’s independence is being impugned.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
The school board argued that Pickering’s statements were false and that the reputation of the district and its employees had been impugned.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
So the markets are the ultimate arbiter of over whether the Fed’s independence is being impugned.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
The school board argued that Pickering’s statements were false and that the reputation of the district and its employees had been impugned.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugned
Verb
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Last season during a livestream, Nacua criticized NFL officials and made a gesture regarded as antisemitic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Canada's Prime Minister and Quebec's legislature criticized the CEO for the language lapse.—
Allison Lampert,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some murder cases in Mecklenburg have taken more than five years to get to trial, something the district attorney has blamed on low staffing and not enough state funding.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The humble org chart isn’t usually blamed for holding back innovation.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In an interview with public radio station France Inter on Monday morning, Bagayoko said he was disappointed that the presidential palace had not condemned the comments, although Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Culture Minister Catherine Pégard both denounced them.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
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Outside the courthouse in Manhattan, small groups of supporters have denounced the trial as illegitimate.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Castro family has been lauded as heroes by some, but condemned as repressive by others.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, has condemned both US and Iranian threats to target civilian energy infrastructure.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although the father wasn't told of the outcome, the older child accused of the abuse was removed from that foster program, according to the lawsuit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The father, whom Seth does not know, accused him of taking pics of his teenager.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gilbert appealed Wilson’s ruling; however, in December 2024, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel turned down Gilbert’s appeal, per Courthouse News Service.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The White House appealed to the Supreme Court, and now the high court has agreed to examine the appeal.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impugned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugned. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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