Synonyms of adulterate

adulterate 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rət 

1

as in dilute

containing foreign or lower-grade substances

the pharmacist was convicted of selling adulterate drugs in order to maximize profits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dilute
• polluted
• adulterated
• diluted
• thinned
• contaminated
• mixed
• tainted
• blended
• impure
• alloyed
• combined
• weakened
• soiled
• debased
• compounded
• corrupted
• incorporated
• spoiled
• unfiltered
• dirtied
• unclarified
• mingled
• begrimed
• commingled
• merged
• unrefined
• intermixed
• sullied
• maculate
• defiled
• intermingled
• besmirched
• fouled
• befouled
• doctored
• bemired
• cheapened
• coalesced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pure
• unadulterated
• undiluted
• unmixed
• uncontaminated
• untainted
• fine
• unpolluted
• unalloyed
• uncut
• plain
• refined
• purified
• straight
• filtered
• neat
• strong
• concentrated
• ultrapure
• uncombined
• sterile
• pasteurized
• clean
• ultrarefined
• clarified
• stainless
• sterilized
• unsullied
• immaculate
• spotless
• unsoiled

2

as in adulterous

relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse

caught red-handed in what he claimed was his first adulterate encounter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adulterous
• extramarital
• extracurricular
• adulterine
• two-timing
• promiscuous
• premarital

adulterate

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈdəl-tə-ˌrāt 

as in to dilute

to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances

the company was fined for adulterating its "all beef" frankfurters with cereal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dilute
• pollute
• cut
• poison
• infect
• manipulate
• load
• dirty
• weaken
• thin
• spoil
• contaminate
• extend
• taint
• degrade
• soil
• water down
• sophisticate
• debase
• lace
• corrupt
• misrepresent
• defile
• falsify
• cheapen
• counterfeit
• sully
• temper
• foul
• befoul
• attenuate
• fake
• qualify
• tamper (with)
• envenom
• moderate
• spike
• doctor
• fudge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enrich
• strengthen
• fortify
• augment
• fertilize
• supplement
• reinforce
• purify
• improve
• refine
• clean
• richen
• enhance
• better
• clarify
• decontaminate
• purge
• cleanse
• lard
• flush
• distill
• leach
• filter
• pasteurize
• concentrate
• compact
• condense

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of adulterate

Verb

Naloxone, the active drug in Narcan, is only effective on opioids and not on stimulants like cocaine, which would suggest the substance Dick used was adulterated with an opiate such as fentanyl. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

Instead, dealers usually adulterate their drugs, combining fentanyl with inert powders such as sugar and baby powder, or mixing in other drugs to stretch the active ingredient. — Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026

This comes after Martin pled guilty to willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water or medicine, which is a felony offense in Nevada. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026

Fruits, leafy greens and other produce can become adulterated with listeria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of said growing area to livestock, USA TODAY previously reported. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025