as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
the outbreak of food poisoning was traced to adulterated ground beef
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in diluted
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adulterated
chicagotribune.com,
9 Dec. 2021
Navarro and Rhein pleaded guilty to their roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs.
—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
11 Aug. 2021
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 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
See All Example Sentences for adulterated
Adjective
Brasch, 61, of Skokie, is specifically charged with receipt in interstate commerce and delivery of an adulterated device, the release said.
—
chicagotribune.com,
9 Dec. 2021
Navarro and Rhein pleaded guilty to their roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs.
—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
11 Aug. 2021
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
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
See All Example Sentences for adulterated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterated
Adjective
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If one neighborhood is highly polluted but nearby communities aren’t, county-level averages would show an overall low level of pollution – even though the more detailed information would reveal a major problem to be addressed in one particular area.
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Her inner light reminds him of the stars he’s seen with his own eyes, above the polluted atmosphere of Earth.
Verb
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The federal lawsuit, filed in September of 2024, alleged that the 2022 DeSoto County electoral map diluted Black voting power in county office elections.
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In conversations about culture, creativity and innovation, Black American contributions are often celebrated while simultaneously being misunderstood, diluted or folded into broader categories that fail to acknowledge their distinct roots.
Adjective
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The life-threatening species that's found in water can also sicken or kill people who eat contaminated seafood, such as raw oysters infected with the bacteria.
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Every dollar a family spends on cancer treatment or a hospital stay tied to contaminated water is a dollar that better rules could have saved them.
Adjective
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But dwarf galaxies are smaller and colder, with more dilute and slower-moving matter.
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Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Adjective
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Gluba said the city has only confirmed two tainted copies of the guide, but is investigating the magnitude of the distribution.
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People can contract a diarrheal infection from tainted food or water, with symptoms most often beginning three to four days after contact with the bacteria.
Adjective
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Aabria walks the best line here, keeping her lies small, manageable, and heavily mixed with the truth, and getting the jury on her side most consistently.
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The two nations have given mixed messages on tolls and routes through the vital waterway.
Adjective
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Take Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who have spent more than four decades proving that romance thrives just fine outside the chapel while raising a blended family.
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In a blended workforce of employees, fractional talent and AI agents, success depends less on similarity and more on people who can challenge assumptions and elevate collective capability.
Cite this Entry
“Adulterated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterated. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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