IMPUGNED Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

impugned

verb

past tense of impugn

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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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 impugned The reputations of our decent and hard-working journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugned

Verb

In both television commercials and in campaign mailers sent to homes across the state, Fazio has criticized Lamont repeatedly for months on electricity.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
The coach had criticized Brooklyn’s shot selection and turnovers before the game, saying the Nets’ decisions with the ball were feeding their problems on defense.

— C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticized

Verb

In his statement, Dan also blamed Russia for a spate of attacks in recent weeks on civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, which has left at least three people dead and has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

— STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
In response, Citation once again blamed the pollution on old drilling practices, according to an email from one of the company’s engineers to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

— Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blamed

Verb

Omar has denounced the investigations as a politically motivated conspiracy against her, and used it to urge supporters to donate to her reelection campaign.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced violence related to immigration but has also acknowledged failures in the border control system over years that have allowed migrants to travel to and stay in South Africa without documentation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of denounced

Verb

Some people condemned the work for outing Foucault as a fellow AIDS sufferer.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
One story involves an innocent coal miner, condemned to death in 1877, who left a handprint in his cell at the Carbon County Jail that no amount of sanding or paint has been able to erase.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemned

Verb

Kagame has led the country for decades, and his government has long been accused of abuses over its treatment of political opponents, journalists and other critics.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Cedric Von Ferdinand, 34, is accused of killing Nadine Jett and burying her remains in her Oak Creek Road property, San Diego County Dist.

— Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of accused

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“Impugned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugned. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impugned

verb

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