impugn

im·pugn

Use impugn in a sentence

verb

The definition of impugn is to question the truthfulness or validity of a statement.

An example of impugn is when you call someone out on what you believe to be a lie.

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MLA Style

"impugn." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn>.

APA Style

impugn. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn

impugn

Obs. to attack physically
to attack by argument or criticism; oppose or challenge as false or questionable

Origin of impugn

Middle English impugnen from Old French impugner from Classical Latin impugnare from in-, on, against + pugnare, to fight: see pugnacious

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impugn." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn>.

APA Style

impugn. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn

impugn

transitive verb

im·pugned, im·pugn·ing, im·pugns

To attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument: impugn a political opponent's record.

Origin of impugn

Middle English impugnen from Old French impugner from Latin impugnāre in- against ; see in- ². pugnāre to fight ; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

im·pugn′a·ble
adjective

im·pugn′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impugn." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn>.

APA Style

impugn. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impugn

Verb

(third-person singular simple present impugns, present participle impugning, simple past and past participle impugned)

To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of.

Related terms

Origin

From Old French impugner, from Latin impugnō, from im- + pugnō (“fight”), from pugnus (“fist”) (as in English pugilism (“fighting with fists, boxing”)), from Proto-Indo-European roots.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.