impugn
Americanverb (used with object)
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impugns,
present (3rd person singular)
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impugned,
past participle, past
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impugning
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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impugnabilitynoun
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impugnationnoun
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impugnernoun
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impugnmentnoun
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impugnableadjective
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unimpugnableadjective
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unimpugnedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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impugnsimple
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impugnssimple
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have impugnedperfect
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has impugnedperfect
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am impugningprogressive
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are impugningprogressive
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is impugningprogressive
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have been impugningperfect progressive
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has been impugningperfect progressive
Past
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impugnedsimple
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had impugnedperfect
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was impugningprogressive
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were impugningprogressive
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had been impugningperfect progressive
Future
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing impugn
Hidden Figures
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First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
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The Merchant of Venice
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In the latter, he said he did not impugn the jurors — who were not present — but was advising the just-acquitted defendant to stay out of trouble.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Ms. Nuzzi will not dignify efforts to impugn her character with any future response,” Nuzzi’s lawyer Ari Wilkenfeld said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
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
Their best approach would be to impugn the credibility of the witnesses on the cross-examination, with the most vulnerable witness being Michael Cohen.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2024
Also, g before n, as gnat, gnaw, gnarl, gnome, gnash, reign, deign, sign, consign, assign, design, condign, benign, impugn, oppugn, arraign, campaign.
From Guide to the Kindergarten and Intermediate Class and Moral Culture of Infancy. by Mary E. Mann
The rules of evidence are supposed to prohibit the presentation of “character evidence” — information that simply impugns a defendant or reveals past wrongs — to avoid biasing jurors.
From New York Times ● Mar. 30, 2022
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
“For people to say we’re somehow manipulating the system — I do take offense, because that impugns my integrity as a system operator.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2020
He also said it “tacitly impugns the integrity” of judges to suggest that they could not meet performance standards.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2018
Each party uses it or drops it to suit the vision it has faith in, but neither impugns in principle its general theoretic authority.
From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by William James
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
“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
The committee said his calling the committee a "kangaroo court" in his resignation statement had "impugned the integrity" of Parliament.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2023
He, a black man, had repeatedly impugned the government of South Africa and its policies of apartheid.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Just as in Pretti’s case, Noem and other senior administration officials justified the incident within hours of her death by impugning the victim’s motives without producing substantive evidence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026
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
“I do not appreciate his impugning the integrity of these proceedings, your honor’s efforts to run a fair trial and our efforts to run a fair trial.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2022
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
