impugn
/ɪmˈpjuːn/ verb
Forms impugns impugning impugned
- verb (transitive, obsolete) To assault, attack.
- verb (transitive) To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of; cast doubt on.
Synonyms
call into question challenge contest contradict deny disavow dispute oppugn negate question
Antonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French impugner, from Latin impugnō, from im- + pugnō (“fight”), from pugnus (“fist”), as in English pugilism (“fighting with fists, boxing”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To attack by words or arguments; to contradict; to assail; to call in question; to make insinuations against; to gainsay; to oppose.
Etymology [OE. impugnen, F. impugner, fr. L. impugnare; in on, against + pugnare to flight. See Pugnacious.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “impugn”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details