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taint

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of taint
Noun
That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 June 2025 In his podcast on The Daily Wire this week, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro cited the taint of the jet deal and called on his listeners to honestly consider its implications. Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2025
Verb
Rahmani, the former prosecutor, said statements by Patel and other Justice Department officials could raise concerns about tainting the jury pool in a future trial. Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025 Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
  • Gently rub it onto the stain with a soft cloth, always moving in the direction of the grain, before rinsing and drying thoroughly.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And the stain-resistant fabric is all about durability in the long haul.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hidden resentments could be poisoning your work-life balance.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025
  • That same day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally poisoning Angela.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The people affected by environmental violations are not just the nearby community, Duggan said, but the workers at polluting facilities as well.
    Taylor Kate Brown, ProPublica, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Rivian also faces opposition from some residents who say the plant is an inappropriate neighbor to farms and will pollute the groundwater.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Alaves is the only blot on their copybook.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That spoiled what has overall remained a strong stretch.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Postponements due to weather or issues with rockets are common with spaceflight, so don't let that possibility spoil your rocket-viewing plans.
    Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods in stores or at home are a place where listeria can keep growing.
    Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • More than 150,000 pounds of shrimp sold at Kroger supermarkets in 30-plus states, including Ohio and Kentucky, have been recalled due to concerns that they may have been contaminated with a radioactive material.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This longer dosing time also addresses common challenges many have faced with daily medicines, including adherence, stigma and fear of accidentally disclosing status through pill bottles.
    Pearl Pugh, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And the universal meal system does reduce stigma and hunger, according to a $7 million study the state commissioned from the Nutrition Policy Institute.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The track session on Saturday was marred with red and yellow flags due to the number of incidents, and the intermittent raindrops at the end that put many drivers at risk.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The 2024 season in particular was marred by injuries to some of the offense’s top players in the first two weeks of the season.
    Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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