Words / C2

im-PYOON/ɪmˈpjuːn/

Impugn means call someone’s honesty, motives, or accuracy into question (formal): impugn her figures, impugn his motives. Question is everyday; attack is blunter. Impute is attribute a quality to someone — related, not the same. Punch is a fist. Do not impugn a person in print without evidence; the verb is already an accusation.

Meaning

To call someone’s honesty, motives, or accuracy into question (formal).

Examples

• “Do not impugn her figures unless you have better ones.”
• “Do not impugn the counts unless you have recounted them.”
• “She imputed kindness to him; she did not impugn his honesty — keep impute and impugn apart.”

Good to know

Attack the truth/honesty of (formal). Everyday: question. Mix-up: impute (attribute). Not a physical punch.

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