as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taint
CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
Bonus: The vast majority of Aussie wines are sealed with screw caps, regardless of price, which equals consistency, longer aging, and zero risk of cork taint.
—Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Only Hu gave up power all at once in a relatively orderly succession, to Xi, but that process was tainted by the dramatic downfall of a Xi rival and powerful Politburo member, Bo Xilai.
—Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
Chapter 7 Delaware Bay Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater
Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
Bonus: The vast majority of Aussie wines are sealed with screw caps, regardless of price, which equals consistency, longer aging, and zero risk of cork taint.
—Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Only Hu gave up power all at once in a relatively orderly succession, to Xi, but that process was tainted by the dramatic downfall of a Xi rival and powerful Politburo member, Bo Xilai.
—Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
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Apply a baking soda paste to any noticeable yellow stains.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Professional dental cleanings can remove these stains and restore the restorations’ original brightness.—
Daryl Austin,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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According to physicians, a 60-year-old man with no prior psychiatric or medical history arrived at their hospital’s emergency room claiming a neighbor poisoned him.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 Aug. 2025
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One variation poisoned the 1930s: a country would devalue its currency to supposedly gain a competitive advantage against its trading partners.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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It’s only been a couple of years since AI songs first started polluting the web, but audio generators like Suno and Udio have improved in subtle yet meaningful ways, simulating human imperfections and quirks more effectively.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
14 Aug. 2025
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The old East German factories, which once dumped chemicals into the river, stopped polluting almost overnight.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For deep cleaning, use hydrogen peroxide for tough spots and clean the sweatband gently with a soft brush, then blot and air dry in a cool, dark place.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 June 2025
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Spray, blot and rinse to watch stains wash away in no time.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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The data reveals systemic vulnerabilities: only 9% of plastic waste is successfully recycled globally, microplastics now contaminate human blood as confirmed by groundbreaking research, and current projections show plastic production almost tripling by 2060.—
Trond Arne Undheim,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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To qualify as contaminated, the pollutants on the site must be proven to be harming human health or the environment.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Programs include supportive interventions that foster intergenerational connections between youths and community elders and culturally relevant educational resources that reduce the stigma of mental health and increase awareness of support options.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
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That’s happening because, for all the lingering stigma and legal hurdles connected to these drugs, research currently is showing that psychedelics might be powerful options for a world of mental health patients who aren’t helped by current medicines.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
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Many worried that the marshy western shore of the borough had been forever marred.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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