Synonyms of contaminant

contaminant

noun

kən-ˈta-mə-nənt 

as in contamination

something that is or that makes impure

a filter to remove contaminants from the drinking water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contamination
• pollutant
• sludge
• defect
• impurity
• soil
• irregularity
• stain
• adulterant
• taint
• defilement
• dirt
• spot
• abnormality
• muck
• blot
• fault
• grime
• filth
• blotch
• flaw
• scum
• smut
• blemish
• disfigurement
• imperfection

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filter
• purifier
• refiner
• clarifier
• purity
• cleanliness
• immaculateness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contaminant

Earlier this year, an open letter from agency leadership warned against using federal funds to buy harm reduction supplies like sterile syringes and pipes, or to distribute test strips for common drug supply contaminants. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

As catastrophic as the fires were for those who lost everything, people whose homes remain standing have been exasperated by insurance company refusals to cover the removal of lingering hazardous contaminants. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

That’s in part due to their handling of homes requiring cleaning due to smoke and other contaminants caused by the fires. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Contributing factors to that could be a low number of axles, like with a solo locomotive, contaminants on the rails, or rust and other conditions that cause poor wheel-to-rail connections, according to the bulletin. — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026