ADULTERANT Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

adulterant

noun

ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rənt

Definition of adulterant

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 adulterant 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 See All Example Sentences for adulterant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterant

Noun

If you’re diagnosed with cyclosporiais, share dietary information with your doctor to help health officials keep track of what foods are at risk of contamination, the CDC said.

— Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026
While half of respondents cited environmental concerns, such as excess water usage and deforestation, 16% of respondents cited pollutants, including air and water contamination, among reasons for their opposition.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Definition of contamination

Noun

Activists had pressured Zeldin for months to crack down on microplastics and other environmental contaminants.

— Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Thoroughly washing, peeling or cooking foods that could store contaminants is recommended to avoid illness.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

Definition of contaminant

Noun

People should look for air purifiers to remove pollutants from entering inside a person’s home, and people can also make their own DIY purifier using a box fan and adequate HEPA filters.

— Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Smoke from wildfires is made of water vapor, pollutants and particulate matter, which can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, trigger systemic inflammation, exacerbate conditions like asthma and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of pollutant

Browse Nearby Words

adult

adulterant

adulterants

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Adulterant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterant. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of adulterant

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on adulterant

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes