as in contamination
something that is or that makes impure
concerned about adulterants in the town's water supply coming from the discharge from the factory
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Recent Examples of adulterant
In a letter reviewed by CBS News, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that agency funding cannot be used to purchase test strips used to check drugs for dangerous adulterants like fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Like many bath salts, NEP was often sold as Ecstasy or added to other drugs as an adulterant.
—
Jonathan Corum,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Plenty of coffee drinkers enjoy medium or dark roasts, which tend to pair well with milk and other adulterants.
—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
Other adulterants also pose potential risks, especially when consumed unknowingly.
—
Benjamin Adams,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Some products have been found to have contaminants such as heavy metals, bacteria, or chemicals or adulterants not listed on the label.
—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
21 July 2025
In recent years, illicit drugs in the US have been cut with some high-profile and dangerous adulterants, such as the powerful veterinary sedative xylazine (aka tranq) and the yet more powerful veterinary sedative medetomidine.
—
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
Those tests have turned up a new adulterant: an industrial chemical known as BTMPS that is used in making plastics.
—
Kate Kilpatrick,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Like many bath salts, NEP was often sold as Ecstasy or added to other drugs as an adulterant.
—
Jonathan Corum,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Plenty of coffee drinkers enjoy medium or dark roasts, which tend to pair well with milk and other adulterants.
—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
Other adulterants also pose potential risks, especially when consumed unknowingly.
—
Benjamin Adams,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Some products have been found to have contaminants such as heavy metals, bacteria, or chemicals or adulterants not listed on the label.
—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
21 July 2025
In recent years, illicit drugs in the US have been cut with some high-profile and dangerous adulterants, such as the powerful veterinary sedative xylazine (aka tranq) and the yet more powerful veterinary sedative medetomidine.
—
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
Those tests have turned up a new adulterant: an industrial chemical known as BTMPS that is used in making plastics.
—
Kate Kilpatrick,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterant
Noun
-
Without effective cleaning and sanitizing, these contaminants can be difficult to remove and may increase the risk of cross-contamination.
-
As mentioned, the four-color Benchy demonstrated accurate color registration with minimal visible contamination between color transitions.
Noun
-
Seventy-five chemicals and four chemical groups (microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS chemicals, and disinfection byproducts) were listed on the 2026 contaminant list.
-
Hazardous materials crews also responded because of concerns that water used to fight the fire could carry chemicals and other contaminants into nearby storm drains.
Noun
-
The buoys measure sea-surface temperature, currents and changes in ocean chemistry due to carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants.
-
The amount of pollutants found at the site is deemed the reason for the exorbitant cost.
Cite this Entry
“Adulterant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterant. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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