Impugn

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪmˈpjuːn/
• Homophones: impune

Origin

From Middle 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.

Full definition of impugn

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To assault, attack.
2. (transitive) To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of.

Synonyms

• (to question the validity of) call into question, challenge, contest, contradict, deny, disavow, dispute, oppugn, negate

Antonyms

• (to question the validity of) authenticate, endorse, support

Derived terms

• impugnable
• impugner

Related terms

• poniard
• pugilism
• pugnacious
• repugn, repugnant

Anagrams

• umping