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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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

Some parties, including wildfire survivors and some lawmakers that represent fire-scarred districts, had criticized his accountability measures as too loose.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
But the union representing former Spirit flight attendants has criticized the carrier for selling the data.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticized

Verb

Democratic divisions haven’t disappeared El-Sayed, who would be the country’s first Muslim senator, has denounced antisemitism while fiercely criticizing Israel for its military operations in Gaza.

— Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Democratic divisions haven't disappeared El-Sayed, who would be the country's first Muslim senator, has denounced antisemitism while fiercely criticizing Israel for its military operations in Gaza.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of denounced

Verb

The mainly movie channel ventured into original programming with the tale of a Thracian soldier who is condemned to fight in Rome's gladiatorial arenas, only to become a champion and vow to bring down the Empire.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Rights groups condemned the executions and questioned the trials.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of condemned

Verb

Internet sleuths accused him of trying to improve his lie in the rough, similar to allegations against Bryson DeChambeau at the British Open last month.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed (D) has had close political ties to Hasan Piker, who has been accused of antisemitism.

— Alexei Koseff, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of accused

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“Impugned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impugned. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of impugned

verb

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