as in criticizing
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impugning
Ehlers’ duty as a public official includes upholding and respecting the legal process, not impugning it.
—
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugning
Verb
-
In multiple phone calls from jail, Nathan Gingles discussed the dependency court case, asking his friend in Texas to pass along information and criticizing Mary’s sister, who was fighting for custody against Schuler.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Both companies have also gotten more vocal in public in recent weeks, with executives openly criticizing each other's businesses.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the familiar narrative — blaming teachers, curriculum or school culture — misses deeper structural realities behind the numbers.—
Jill Stegman,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Over time, this builds discernment and institutional memory, and ensures that people take responsibility for their calls, rather than blaming the models.—
Carolyn Dewar,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Beutner, who entered the contest in October, spent much of his campaign denouncing Bass’ handling of the Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
His candidacy sparked sharp divisions, with supporters portraying him as a symbol of stability and opponents denouncing him as a reminder of authoritarian rule and unresolved war crimes.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Bondi replied by accusing her of hypocrisy over a lack of similar questioning toward former Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jayapal interjected, trying to force an apology.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In 2020, Hubbard sued several student activists for defamation, accusing them of damaging his academic reputation and mental wellbeing in their campaign for his removal from campus.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Human Artistry Campaign, which counts the likes of SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America among its members, has joined the Motion Picture Association in condemning the AI model released by ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant that owns TikTok.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In an internal memo last year, Prasad wrote that the streamlined method would no longer be permitted – leading more than a dozen former FDA commissioners to pen an editorial condemning the statements.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impugning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugning. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
