TAINT Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'taint' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate , defile , and pollute . While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination. // tainted meat // a politician's tainted reputation

Q: When would 'contaminate' be a good substitute for 'taint'?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint , contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. // water contaminated by industrial wastes

Q: When can 'defile' be used instead of 'taint'?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration. // defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Q: When is 'pollute' a more appropriate choice than 'taint'?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute , sometimes interchangeable with contaminate , distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy. // the polluted waters of the river

taint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of taint next

as in stain

a mark of guilt or disgrace that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations

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taint

2 of 2

verb

ˈtānt

as in to poison

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy a tendency toward conceitedness taints the athlete's status as a role model

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as in to pollute

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable smog has long tainted the air of the city, making it difficult to breathe

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How does the verb taint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate, defile, and pollute. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

When would contaminate be a good substitute for taint?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint, contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When can defile be used instead of taint?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is pollute a more appropriate choice than taint?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

Examples of taint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Present Climate change is altering the chemistry of wine Smoke taint from wildfires is gross, even to wine amateurs. —

Big Think, 24 June 2024 Pollution taints even the most remote parts of Everglades, canoe journey reveals Humans also absorb microplastics through our skin. —

Gillian O’Callaghan, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2024

Verb

Traveling through the forest’s splendor, their peace is broken as a bird falls from the sky, tainted by a black inklike corruption. —

Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024 Kristy Holston, the deputy public defender representing Chasing Horse, had argued that some evidence presented to the grand jury, including an improper definition of grooming that was presented without expert testimony, had tainted the state's case. —

CBS News, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for taint

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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Last Updated: 31 Oct 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of taint

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