IMPEACH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impeach mean? 

• IMPEACH (verb)
  The verb IMPEACH has 3 senses:

1. challenge the honesty or veracity of

2. charge (a public official) with an offense or misdemeanor committed while in office

3. bring an accusation against; level a charge against

  Familiarity information: IMPEACH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPEACH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they impeach    ... he / she / it impeaches   
Past simple: impeached   
Past participle: impeached   
-ing form: impeaching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Challenge the honesty or veracity of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

the lawyers tried to impeach the credibility of the witnesses

Hypernyms (to "impeach" is one way to...):

challenge (issue a challenge to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Charge (a public official) with an offense or misdemeanor committed while in office

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The President was impeached

Hypernyms (to "impeach" is one way to...):

charge; file; lodge (file a formal charge against)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

impeachment (a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bring an accusation against; level a charge against

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

accuse; criminate; impeach; incriminate

Context example:

The neighbors accused the man of spousal abuse

Hypernyms (to "impeach" is one way to...):

accuse; charge (blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "impeach"):

reproach; upbraid (express criticism towards)

arraign (accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy)

recriminate (return an accusation against someone or engage in mutual accusations; charge in return)

charge; file; lodge (file a formal charge against)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody of something

 Context examples 

"You don't like the magazines," Martin softly impeached.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You impeach my sober judgment and make my canons of little worth.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

As to Captain Wentworth's views, she deemed it of more consequence that he should know his own mind early enough not to be endangering the happiness of either sister, or impeaching his own honour, than that he should prefer Henrietta to Louisa, or Louisa to Henrietta.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)