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
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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
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
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Weather officials urge people to limit their outdoor activity as much as possible, especially those with existing health issues, to avoid breathing in the polluted air.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Caleb Roberts, the director of Downwinders at Risk, said once again, the most vulnerable and polluted communities are left behind.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then give it a monthly shot of liquid houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half strength, to replenish the nutrients after the flower show.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
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For nails and hair On the hair, rosehip oil can be applied to the ends, preferably diluted with a carrier oil like argon oil, to add shine and help control frizz.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Leptospirosis can also be found in contaminated water or soil and is spread by rodents.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
30 Jan. 2026
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Dealing with repairs because of the contaminated gas?—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Adjective
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Corruption scandals have brought down several people in Zelensky’s inner circle, including his former business partner Timur Mindich and his long-time right-hand man Andriy Yermak, leading some observers to question whether Zelensky had a tendency to over-rely on tainted allies.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Chinese officials blamed the tainted test results on chemically altered food the athletes had consumed at the time.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Lightweight, flushable and eco‑friendly, this mixed tofu litter locks in odors fast while staying gentle on paws and easy on the planet.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Though results are mixed, several studies show that this herb reduced the number of migraines and the severity of symptoms.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most notably, Seagrams purchased it in 1943, and for years the main product was a blended whiskey, while the straight bourbon was mostly exported to Japan.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
9 Feb. 2026
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In her memoir, Atwood confronts the complications of the blended family.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adulterated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterated. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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