to impugn

Examples

• All

• My honor has been impugned.

  Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

• Counsel is trying to impugn the intent of the representatives of the people.

  Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

• Not to impugn your work, sir.

  Titanic (1997)

• This is difficult for me to ask and in no way am I impugning you.

  Abandon (2002)

• The saying attributed to the Prophet was impugned by some earlier Islamic authorities.

  Academic text (1998)

• You're taking issue with an individual, impugning his character, instead of addressing the content of his perspective.

  Blog text (30)

• Given applicable standards of proof, the attempts to impugn this man's character or question his identity have been woefully inadequate.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Abu Ubaydallah was a competent and upright vizier, and nothing could be found to impugn his character.

  Academic text (1994)

• Doctors did not speak as a monolithic bloc on this "problem": some blamed midwives while others impugned poorly trained physicians.

  Academic text (2016)

• The caveman was offended; his skill at stalking the saber-toothed pseudotiger had been impugned.

  Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

Q

to question

vsto impugn

777 3.5

To express doubt about whether something is true

focuses more on honesty and motives rather than general quality or value

C

to call into question

vsto impugn

33 4.5

To say that something may not be true or right

targets honesty and motives rather than general appropriateness or suitability

C

to cast doubt

vsto impugn

17 4.6

Make people feel unsure if something is true

directly challenges truth or motives rather than mainly creating others' uncertainty

D

to discredit

vsto impugn

16 5.6

To say that something is not true or trustworthy

challenges truth or motives without necessarily rejecting them as certainly false

I

to impeach

vsto impugn

• Specialized

12 7.7

Try to show a witness or statement is not trustworthy

applies more broadly to doubt honesty or motives outside legal testimony

O

to oppugn

vsto impugn

• Formal

9.9

To question whether something is true or right

focuses on honesty and motives rather than on propriety or form

Antonyms

S

to support

572 2.1

Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true

V

to validate

• Formal

87 3.9

To make something officially acceptable by showing proof

How Forceful

to discredit

66 6.3

to impugn

• Formal

20 8.1

to challenge

• Formal

552 4.3

to question

777 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology