impugning

verb

present participle of impugn
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.

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impugning
  1. criticizing
  2. blaming
  3. denouncing
  4. accusing
  5. condemning
Verb
  • Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.
    — Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Cofer is criticizing Guerra’s absence from the vote and is asking him to publicly state his position on the partnership.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of criticizing
Verb
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • But critics, like the Civic Federation, are denouncing the budget plan, calling it an unacceptable abdication of responsibility to meet the fiscal realities facing the city.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • What began with peaceful protests by high school students demanding better conditions at schools has morphed into roiling protests nationwide denouncing rising living costs and inequities in French society.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of denouncing
Verb
  • An earlier criminal case accusing Comey of having lied to Congress in 2020 was dismissed by a judge who concluded that the prosecutor who filed the charges was illegally appointed.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In October, 2022, Ammann’s sisters filed a criminal complaint accusing Georg Frei of failing to get her to a hospital promptly.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of accusing
Verb
  • López’s murder sparked global outcry, with Pope Francis, the United Nations and the human rights arm of the Organization of American States condemning the incident and calling for an independent investigation.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Acton spent Tuesday condemning Ramaswamy for the ad even before his campaign confirmed its provenance.
    — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of condemning

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impugned
impugning
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Cite this Entry

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

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