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Impinge vs Impugn - What's the difference?

impinge | impugn |

As verbs the difference between impinge and impugn

is that impinge is to make a physical impact (on); to collide, to crash (upon) while impugn is to assault, attack.

impinge

English

Verb

(imping)
  • To make a physical impact (on); to collide, to crash (upon).
  • * , vol.1, New York Review Books, 2001, p.287:
  • The ordinary rocks upon which such men do impinge and precipitate themselves, are cards, dice, hawks, and hounds […].
  • (figuratively) To interfere with; to encroach (on, upon).
  • *
  • To have an effect upon; to limit.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
  • , chapter=4, title= Lord Stranleigh Abroad , passage=“I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. …”}}

    Usage notes

    * The transitive use is less common, not included in many small dictionaries, and not favored by Garner's Modern American Usage (2009).

    Derived terms

    * impingement * impingent * impinger

    impugn

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To assault, attack.
  • To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of.
  • Quotations

    {{timeline, 1800s=1859 1864 1872 1889, 1900s=1922}} * 1859 — *: Let the opinions impugned be the belief in a God and in a future state, or any of the commonly received doctrines of morality. * 1864 — *: There have been much impugning of motives and much heated controversy as to the proper means and best mode of advancing the Union cause. * 1872 — *: At home, at a period of immense prosperity, with a people contented and naturally loyal, we find to our surprise the most extravagant doctrines professed and the fundamental principles of our most valuable institutions impugned , and that too by persons of some authority. * 1889 — , ch. xxv *: It is a hardy question, fair sir and Boss, since it doth go far to impugn the wisdom of even our holy Mother Church herself. * 1922 — , ch. 21 *: He is not dead. When he revives he will return to his quarters with a fine tale of his bravery and there will be none to impugn his boasts.

    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

    Anagrams

    *