as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
the outbreak of food poisoning was traced to adulterated ground beef
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2025
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
Some olive oils are adulterated, meaning that other substances may be added to them to lower their quality—and often manufacturing costs—while increasing the amount in the bottle.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2025
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
-
Park lakes and reedy little streams—anything not too polluted from the steel factories.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In a world becoming ever more polluted with AI slop, Iwerks’ film honors the hard work — and reward — of doing things by hand.—
Robert Niles,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Clean Apple cider vinegar, sometimes referred to as ACV, should always be diluted for cleaning purposes.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Those sums would likely be diluted, given baseball teams carry 26 players and NBA teams carry up to 15, but money is still money.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dealing with repairs because of the contaminated gas?—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Major soil removal underway Meerbott said restoring the park has become a priority as crews work to remove contaminated soil.—
Marybel Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
-
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Adjective
-
Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Clostridium botulinum can be unevenly spread throughout powdered formula, so not all babies who consume a tainted product will fall ill, according to medical experts.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While the letter sent mixed signals regarding AI, Mohen’s acknowledgement that the platform is overrun with slop seems a step in the right direction.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival brought a rousing ovation — maybe that metric does hold some water — and mixed reviews that picked apart the film’s pacing and characterization and the audacity of ending with a Lord Bryon quote over one from Shelley.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Announced today during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the blended finance blueprint convened investors, philanthropists and industry experts to explore the mobilization of a $2 billion investment.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, the character is an alienated young woman returning to a blended family, where her uncle Chris (Tobias Menzies) is trying to build a life with his new wife and wants to bury his brother’s ashes, which are still in the family home.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adulterated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterated. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
