Synonyms of impugned

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.

Related Words

• criticized
• blamed
• denounced
• condemned
• accused
• appealed
• cited
• tried
• prosecuted
• summoned
• implicated
• called (on)
• faulted
• censured
• indicted
• defamed
• incriminated
• castigated
• charged
• damned
• impeached
• reproached
• reprobated
• taxed
• rebuked
• framed
• reported
• named
• criminated
• sued
• reproved
• arraigned
• booked
• informed (against)
• chid
• inculpated
• retaliated
• recriminated

Dissimilar Words

• defended
• advocated
• justified
• championed
• excused
• remitted
• forgave
• pardoned
• vindicated
• acquitted
• cleared
• exonerated
• absolved
• shrived
• exculpated

Example Sentences

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