Thesaurus

contaminate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of contaminate

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump

Synonyms of contaminate

befoul, defile, foul, poison, pollute, taint

Words Related to contaminate

begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

corrupt, rot, spoil

adulterate, doctor

dilute, water down

Near Antonyms of contaminate

clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill (also distil), purge

disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

Antonyms of contaminate

decontaminate, purify

Synonym Discussion of contaminate

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

- water contaminated by industrial wastes

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

- tainted meat
- a politician's tainted reputation

pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

- the polluted waters of the river

defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

- defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Learn More about contaminate

See words that rhyme with contaminate Dictionary: Definition of contaminate Medical Dictionary: Definition of contaminate Spanish Central: Translation of contaminate Nglish: Translation of contaminate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of contaminate for Arabic speakers

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