impugn

American  

[im-pyoon] / ɪmˈpjun /

verb (used with object)

• impugns,
  present (3rd person singular)
• impugned,
  past participle,  past
• impugning
  present participle

1. to challenge as false (another's statements, motives, etc.); cast doubt upon.

   Synonyms:

   censure, criticize, malign, asperse, attack

2. Archaic. to assail (a person) by words or arguments; vilify.

3. Obsolete. to attack (a person) physically.

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impugn British  

/ ɪmˈpjuːn /

verb

1. (tr) to challenge or attack as false; assail; criticize

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• impugnability
  noun
• impugnation
  noun
• impugner
  noun
• impugnment
  noun
• impugnable
  adjective
• unimpugnable
  adjective
• unimpugned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• impugning
  present
• impugned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• impugn
  simple
• impugns
  simple
• have impugned
  perfect
• has impugned
  perfect
• am impugning
  progressive
• are impugning
  progressive
• is impugning
  progressive
• have been impugning
  perfect progressive
• has been impugning
  perfect progressive

Past

• impugned
  simple
• had impugned
  perfect
• was impugning
  progressive
• were impugning
  progressive
• had been impugning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will impugn
  simple
• will have impugned
  perfect
• will be impugning
  progressive
• will have been impugning
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of impugn

1325–75; Middle English impugnen < Middle French impugner < Latin impugnāre to attack, equivalent to im- im- ¹ + pugnāre to fight, derivative of pugnus fist; see pugnacious

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Explanation

To impugn means to call into question or attack as wrong. If your usually grumpy brother is suddenly nice and sweet, you'll impugn his motives if you're smart — he probably just wants something from you. The root of impugn is the Latin pugnare which means "to fight," so when you impugn, you are fighting or attacking, but by saying that something is false or wrong. If a candidate has a record that cannot be impugned, his or her opponent might go for a character attack. If you take pride in your work, you will be especially insulted if someone impugns your professionalism or integrity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impugn impugns impugned impugning

Philippe Claudel, president of the Académie Goncourt, said that the evidence gathered thus far wasn’t enough to impugn Orélien’s book.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Not to impugn the integrity of anyone’s former travel agent, but that agent was probably less concerned than Google Flights with showing you the lowest possible price to get where you were heading.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2025

That’s not to say that a cynic would be shocked if somebody donated to charity or helped a stranger, but they might suspect or impugn the person’s motives.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024

If Gardner was going to impugn his character and question his credibility, he decided, he wouldn’t cooperate with her prosecutors.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2023

"Marry! the knave doth impugn my knowledge of the English tongue."

From The Tangled Skein by Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy

We’ve learned a lot about women’s rights and the suffrage movement, and do we hear men saying that it shouldn’t be taught because it impugns men?

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2022

Still, founded on prodigious research, it convincingly impugns key tenets of Bugliosi’s narrative and exhumes a trove of provocative data.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2019

He also said it “tacitly impugns the integrity” of judges to suggest that they could not meet performance standards.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2018

Deliberately putting out a bad product is a bad-faith gesture to your paying customers and impugns the integrity of the game.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2017

"Without clearing his own honesty, he impugns my taste," said Crane.

From Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Alice Duer Miller

Humphrey, the Court said a prisoner named Roy Heck couldn’t seek monetary damages for what he claimed was an unconstitutional manslaughter conviction, without first getting it overturned or impugned in some way.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

"On merit too, it is held that impugned transactions cannot be classified as manipulative or fraudulent transactions or unfair trade practices," the order notes.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2025

“It would seem that because not only their reputations are being impugned, but they are central to this case—it would seem that an interview of these two prosecutors would be central.”

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2024

“The impugned conduct took place in Queensland whether one terms the impugned conduct an ‘effect’ or actual conduct,” she added.

From Seattle Times ● May 23, 2024

People tend to get defensive when the integrity of their national sport is impugned.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Such was the outcry that Ms. Oudéa-Castéra was obliged to apologize for impugning the performance of teachers.

From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024

She argued action is needed because if a deepfake misleadingly impugning a candidate circulates without a disclaimer and doesn’t get publicly debunked, it could unfairly sway an election.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 10, 2023

The committee said it had "followed the procedures" at all times and accused Mr Johnson of impugning "the integrity of the House by his statement".

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2023

She said plaintiffs could potentially go after companies for faulty or negligent designs that result in algorithms putting out damaging information, impugning reputation.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2023

American government officials, the press, and the public expressed their disappointment with the delays, many impugning the agency’s judgment and competence.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

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Related Words

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