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  

/ ˌɪmpʌɡˈneɪʃən, 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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impugn impugns impugned impugning

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

Stories like these are not told to impugn the professionalism and ethics of the American military.

From Slate ● Jun. 10, 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

In cross-examination Tuesday, Trump lawyer Susan Necheles grilled Daniels about her memoir and her ire for Trump in a bid to impugn her credibility in front of jurors.

From Salon ● May 8, 2024

This is not at all to impugn Mr. Brisbane's motives, but merely to indicate on what slender strings such an editorial may depend.

From The International Jew The World's Foremost Problem by Henry Ford

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

The documentary impugns the criminal justice system’s pursuit of Mr. Avery and Mr. Dassey at nearly every turn, pointing the finger at investigators, prosecutors and a defense lawyer who was assigned to Mr. Dassey.

From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2016

"I have known Hilton Dane from boyhood, as I knew his father before him; and I haven't the slightest objection to hurting the feelings of any man who impugns the honesty of my friends."

From The League of the Leopard by Harold Bindloss

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

Over the weekend, the committee said his "kangaroo court" comments had impugned the integrity of Parliament.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2023

Doheny, impugned but not impoverished by the Teapot Dome scandal, spent $4 million to build Greystone as a gift to his son and heir, Ned.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2022

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 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

It sometimes seems as if the participants in the debate are more concerned with impugning each others’ motives than addressing the genuine issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2022

He suggested that Mr Johnson's behaviour was "impugning the reputations of Conservative MPs".

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2022

At one point, Wessel told Slovo that he was impugning the integrity of the court and fined him for contempt.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• assail
• contravene
• tar