taint

verb \ ˈtānt \

Definition of taint

transitive verb

1 :to contaminate morally :corrupt

scholarship tainted by envy

2 :to affect with putrefaction :spoil

3 :to touch or affect slightly with something bad

persons tainted with prejudice

intransitive verb

1 :to become affected with putrefaction :spoil

2 obsolete :to become weak

See taint defined for English-language learners

See taint defined for kids

Examples of taint in a Sentence

criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy
a tendency toward conceitedness taints that athlete's status as a role model

Recent Examples of taint from the Web

Yet the win from of a week ago is now being tainted by a loss: Metiria Turei, the Green Party’s co-leader, resigned on Wednesday.

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "The Dish on Princess Diana, Taylor Swift Takes the Stand, Why NZ Loves Jacinda," 10 Aug. 2017
A legislative committee investigating how an anonymous letter could have been used to taint the state Board of Education's selection of a new superintendent last year will resume its meetings today.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Alabama lawmakers have new questions about Pouncey complaint," 25 July 2017
The implication being that one can be blinded by local pride, that loyalty to a regional cuisine can taint judgment.

— paula forbes, GQ, "Why You Can't Make Great Texas Barbecue in Brooklyn," 8 July 2017
Others point out that insiders may best know what is needed to fix Uber and not everyone at the company was tainted by Kalanick’s behavior.

— dee-ann durbin, The Seattle Times, "Well-known names surface as possible Uber CEO candidates," 21 June 2017
Jeanne Clarke Harris, a veteran advertising and public relations executive who upended District politics by publicly confirming the existence of secret spending that tainted the 2010 mayoral race, died June 15 at a hospital in Washington.

— mike debonis, Washington Post, "Jeanne Clarke Harris, PR executive who confirmed illegal ‘shadow campaign’ in D.C. mayoral race, dies at 80," 19 June 2017
Would Lynch really taint something so lovely as the Cooper/Audrey relationship from the original series?

— joanna robinson, VanityFair.com, "Twin Peaks: The Hidden Implications of Diane’s Emotional Confrontation," 18 June 2017
Surveys by the Nile Institute of Environmental Health, South Sudan’s first environmental think tank, show that water used by local communities is tainted by chemical spills from oil exploration projects.

— National Geographic, "Massacre Survivors Cling to Life in Giant Swamp," 14 June 2017
Integrity will play a key role for voters in a race already tainted by scandal in Montgomery and unfurling against the backdrop of calls to drain the swamp in Washington.

— amy yurkanin, AL.com, "Roy Moore campaigns for senate on a shoestring and a prayer," 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'taint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of taint

Middle English teynten to color & taynten to attaint; Middle English teynten, from Anglo-French teinter, from teint, past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere; Middle English taynten, short for attaynten — more at tinge, attain

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First Known Use: 1573

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taint Synonyms

Synonyms

blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Antonyms

decontaminate, purify

Related Words

begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar; abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink; bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert; color, distort, twist

Near Antonyms

cleanse, purify; dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

Synonym Discussion of taint

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

- water contaminated by industrial wastes

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

- tainted meat
- a politician's tainted reputation

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

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

taint

noun

Definition of taint

:a contaminating mark or influence

the taint of scandal

—

taintless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See taint defined for English-language learners

Examples of taint in a Sentence

that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations

Recent Examples of taint from the Web

Either way, the taint of controversy tarnishes the president, diminishes his political capital, and starts to absorb time and energy that once would have been spent on constructive rather than defensive actions.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Donald Trump Is a Lame-Duck President," 17 Aug. 2017
When does torture taint testimony, and for how long?

— carol rosenberg, miamiherald, "How long after torture are statements admissible?Guantánamo court debates question.," 4 Aug. 2017
That taint of a hitter continually striking out has long since left the game, which encourages an all-or-nothing mentality at the plate.

— paul hoynes, cleveland.com, "Why aren't Cleveland Indians protecting Jose Ramirez in the lineup? Hey, Hoynsie," 9 July 2017
Hipster taint aside, the place made fantastic food.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Atlanta," 30 June 2017
Cosby is hardly the first celebrity to experience a fall from grace or the taint of scandal.

— brian lowry, CNN, "Bill Cosby: A big legacy, forever tarnished," 18 June 2017
Borrowers for speculative projects sometimes forgo credit ratings rather than risk the taint of being labeled junk.

— martin z braun, Bloomberg.com, "American Dream Deferred: Goldman Delays Pricing of Mall Bonds," 14 June 2017
While Uber and Lyft will likely pour substantial incentives into the city to regain market share, Austin’s deep independent streak could make the taint of the companies’ interventionism hard to shake.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "Uber and Lyft Will Be Back in Austin on Monday," 28 May 2017
The point is to present Pence, once again, as a force of stability in a very unstable administration—and to protect Pence from the taint of this administration if things get really bad.

— alex shephard, New Republic, "Don’t trust Mike Pence.," 19 May 2017

First Known Use of taint

1601

taint Synonyms

Synonyms

blot, brand, onus, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stigma, stain

Related Words

black eye, discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame; corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquity, licentiousness, sin, unscrupulousness, vice

Near Antonyms

award, credit, honor; chasteness, chastity, modesty, purity, stainlessness; good, right; honesty, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulousness, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness; fame, glory, renown, repute

TAINT Defined for English Language Learners

taint

verb

Definition of taint for English Language Learners

: to hurt or damage the good condition of (something)
: to make (something) dangerous or dirty especially by adding something harmful or undesirable to it

taint

noun

Definition of taint for English Language Learners

: something that causes a person or thing to be thought of as bad, dishonest, etc.

TAINT Defined for Kids

taint

verb \ ˈtānt \

Definition of taint for Students

tainted; tainting

1 :to rot slightly

tainted meat

2 :to affect slightly with something bad One bad game tainted my reputation as the best.

taint

noun

Definition of taint for Students

:a trace of decay

Law Dictionary

taint

transitive verb \ ˈtānt \

legal Definition of taint

:to damage or destroy the validity of

evidence tainted by an illegal search

—

taint

noun

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taint

Definition of taint

taintless

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taint Synonyms

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TAINT Defined for English Language Learners

taint

Definition of taint for English Language Learners

taint

Definition of taint for English Language Learners

TAINT Defined for Kids

taint

Definition of taint for Students

taint

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taint

legal Definition of taint

taint

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