as in criticizes
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugns
Verb
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If your boss criticizes your work, do not argue or retreat.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025 -
What the president is trying to do here is very systemic and systematic, and that is, anyone who stands up to the president, anyone who criticizes the president, anyone who says anything adverse to the president's interests gets the full weight of the federal government brought down on them.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Delta blames a global IT outage last summer for its performance problems.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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The man who unleashed a mob on the Capitol, and said Liz Cheney should face nine barrels shooting at her for supporting his opponent, blames the radical left for their rhetoric.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Qatar denounces ‘cowardly’ Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders Israel launched an aerial strike against senior Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, in its first direct attack on Qatari soil, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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For instance, ProPublica cited his tax experience as exceptionally limited, pointing out that his only qualification centers around being a Certified Tax & Business Advisor, which ProPublica denounces as a dubious and frivolous designation.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But Ukraine accuses Russia of an imperial war of aggression and trying to fold the country under Moscow's control, erasing its sovereignty and national identity.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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The county accuses the PUC of ignoring testimony and a report promoting natural gas or small nuclear power reactors as ways to produce cleaner energy while maintaining the levels of jobs and tax revenue that coal has generated.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jezebel condemns the shooting of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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The United States and South Korean militaries are holding annual joint exercises that North Korea condemns as a rehearsal for invasion.—
Stella Kim,
NBC news,
25 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Impugns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugns. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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