transitive verb

• Dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question.

  ‘the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother’

  More example sentences

  • ‘They have also attacked the professor personally by impugning his motives and accusing him of opportunism.’
  • ‘Now actually look at what we say, rather than impugning our motives.’
  • ‘I really don't have a problem with the substance of his rejoinder, and I certainly did not mean to impugn his motives in my original post.’
  • ‘And there is no reason to impugn the motives and/or professionalism of all of the other parties.’
  • ‘I specifically tried not to unfairly impugn the motives of anti-war types.’
  • ‘He never impugns the motives of those about whom he writes.’
  • ‘All too often, psychology's internal battles have been driven by ‘negative leaders,’ he says: people who attempt to gain power by impugning the motives or actions of others.’
  • ‘So, too, the neoconservatives are trying to fend off critics by assassinating their character and impugning their motives.’
  • ‘Instead, the government concentrated on impugning his motives.’
  • ‘Kelly had just gotten through the hard part, and the questioning had not impugned his credibility.’
  • ‘A defamatory statement is one which impugns another person's reputation or adversely affects his or her standing in the community.’
  • ‘Thanks to Clarke and Foster, such questions can now be asked openly, seriously, and without impugning the questioner's patriotism.’
  • ‘When a president's honesty is impugned, the stakes are high.’
  • ‘In doing so, he has impugned the questioner and certainly has impugned the Clerk of the House.’
  • ‘‘One can't throw out accusations which impugn the good name of people and question their motivation and commitment,’ said Ms Harrington.’
  • ‘Wrap himself in the flag and impugn the patriotism of any who would question his moral superiority.’
  • ‘That connection alone impugns the report's integrity and validity.’
  • ‘It irritates me that so many people are not even giving the young woman the benefit of the doubt, and are casting aspersions on her character and impugning her credibility, based on no, or the very flimsiest of, evidence.’
  • ‘And I would hope that we can have this conversation and discuss what happened before and what went on before and what I said without impugning my credibility or my integrity.’
  • ‘Millions of dollars have gone to help children, and I truly resent this man impugning my integrity.’

  Synonyms

  call into question, challenge, question, dispute, query, take issue with, impeach

  View synonyms