| Main Entry: | impugn |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, challenge |
Synonyms: |
assail, attack, blast, break, call into question, cast aspersions upon, cast doubt upon, come down on, contradict, contravene, cross, cut to shreds, deny, disaffirm, dispute, gainsay, knock*, negate, negative, oppose, pin something on, put down*, question, resist, run down, skin alive, slam*, smear, stick it to, swipe at, tar, throw doubt on, throw the book at, thumb nose at, traduce, trash, traverse, zap, zing |
| Notes: | to impugn is to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of; to oppugn is to dispute the truth or validity of, to strive against |
Antonyms: |
flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | assail |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attack, usually with words |
Synonyms: |
abuse, assault, bash, berate, beset, blast, blister, bust, charge, come at, criticize, encounter, have at, impugn, invade, lambaste, lay into, malign, maltreat, molest, revile, set upon, trash*, vilify, work over |
| Notes: | to assail a task is to approach it with the intent of mastering it, from Latin salire 'to leap'; assault is also based on this word and assail and assault can be synonyms |
| Main Entry: | attack |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | assault verbally |
Synonyms: |
abuse, berate, blame, blitz, censure, criticize, impugn, jump down one's throat, jump on one's case, lay into, malign, refute, reprove, revile, shoot down, stretch, vilify |
Antonyms: |
defend, resist, submit, withstand |
| Main Entry: | censure |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | condemn; criticize severely |
Synonyms: |
abuse, admonish, animadvert, asperse, attack, backbite, berate, blame, carp at, castigate, cavil, chastise, chide, contemn, cut up, denigrate, denounce, deprecate, disapprove, discipline, disparage, exprobate, find fault with, get after, impugn, incriminate, judge, knock, lecture, look askance, ostracize, pick apart, pull apart, read out, rebuff, rebuke, remonstrate, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprove, scold, take to task, tear apart, tell off, upbraid |
Antonyms: |
allow, approve, compliment, endorse, laud, permit, sanction |
| Main Entry: | challenge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | dispute, question |
Synonyms: |
accost, arouse, ask for, assert, beard, brave, call for, call out, claim, confront, cross, dare, defy, demand, denounce, exact, face down, face off, face the music, fly in the face of, hang in, impeach, impose, impugn, inquire, insist upon, investigate, invite competition, make a point of, make a stand, object to, provoke, query, reclaim, require, search out, stand up to, stick it out, stimulate, summon, tax, test, throw down the gauntlet, try, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
agreement, answer, decision, victory |
| Main Entry: | charge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | accuse |
Synonyms: |
arraign, blame, blow the whistle on, censure, criminate, drag into court, finger*, hang something on, impeach, impugn, impute, incriminate, inculpate, indict, involve, peg, point the finger at, reprehend, reproach, tax, turn on, whistle-blow |
Antonyms: |
exculpate, exonerate, free |
| Main Entry: | contradict |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | be at variance with |
Synonyms: |
belie, buck, call in question, challenge, confront, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, cross, dare, deny, differ, disaffirm, disclaim, disprove, dispute, fly in the face of, gainsay, have bone to pick, impugn, negate, negative, oppose, refuse to accept, repudiate, take on, thumbs down, traverse |
Antonyms: |
OK, accept, agree, approve, concede, confirm, corroborate, reconcile, sign, verify, vouch |
| Main Entry: | contravene |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | go against, contradict |
Synonyms: |
abjure, breach, break, combat, conflict with, counteract, cross, defy, disaffirm, disobey, encroach, exclude, fight, gainsay, hinder, impugn, infract, infringe, interfere, interpose, intrude, negate, offend, oppose, overstep, refute, reject, repudiate, resist, spurn, thwart, transgress, traverse, trespass, violate |
Antonyms: |
agree, aid, allow, approve, assent, assist, concur, consent, endorse, help, permit, uphold |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | denounce |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | condemn, attack |
Synonyms: |
accuse, adjudicate, arraign, blacklist, blame, boycott, brand, castigate, censure, charge, charge with, criticize, damn, declaim, decry, denunciate, derogate, dress down, excoriate, expose, finger*, hang something on, impeach, implicate, impugn, incriminate, indict, inveigh against, knock, ostracize, proscribe, prosecute, rap, rat, rebuke, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprobate, reprove, revile, scold, show up, skin*, smear, stigmatize, take to task, threaten, upbraid, vilify, vituperate |
Antonyms: |
approve, commend, compliment, praise |