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
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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The grants are expected to help clean up 75 acres of polluted lands and create 1,500 housing units, in addition to new school spaces and commercial areas.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
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As to the environment, white phosphorus destroyed fruit, vegetable and olive harvests, burned agricultural lands and left them polluted.—
Josiane Yazbeck,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, that’s diluted to quarter strength.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
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In Williams, plaintiffs alleged that those district lines diluted minority voting strength in violation of the state constitutional requirement to protect minority voters in communities where minority voters can’t elect their preferred candidates when voting is highly polarized.—
Jeffrey M. Wice,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Dealing with repairs because of the contaminated gas?—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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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
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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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But the process- judging by the emails- seemed to take too long and not be transparent enough for Colorado gasoline regulators, who asked Sinclair for days for a list of gas stations where the tainted fuel was sold.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
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The severity of the damage usually depends on how much of the tainted gas drivers pumped, Inslee said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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An 80-acre bayfront site, once home to Burger King’s global headquarters, is set to be transformed from an aging office park into an expansive mixed-use development.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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Belize’s health care system receives mixed reviews from expats.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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 4 Feb. 2026.
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