impugn
Cast doubt upon
To impugn is to challenge or call into question, typically someone's motives, honesty, or character: The lawyer impugned the witness's credibility.
The word carries a formal, often adversarial tone—you impugn something by attacking its validity or integrity: I don't mean to impugn your judgment, but this seems risky.
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- contestOrganized competitive event
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- attackAggressive act against another
- opposeAct against something
contradict · challenge · counter · confront · rebut · refute · discredit · invalidate
Spoken false defamation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- smearSpread or defame
besmirch · tarnish · denigrate · disparage · calumniate · traduce · libel · asperse
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- doubtLack of firm belief
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- mistrustLack of faith
- suspectBelieve to be likely
disbelieve · skepticism · suspicion · incredulity · misgivings · qualms · reservations · wariness
question
Request for information
- contestOrganized competitive event
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- attackAggressive act against another
oppose · contradict · challenge · counter · confront · rebut · refute · discredit · invalidate · controvert
slander
Spoken false defamation
smear · besmirch · tarnish · denigrate · disparage · calumniate · traduce · libel · asperse · discredit
question
Request for information
suspect · disbelieve · skepticism · suspicion · incredulity · misgivings · qualms · reservations · wariness · uncertainty
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
castigate · lambaste · berate · rebuke · reproach · assail · attack · excoriate · pillory · blast