Synonym Chooser

How does the verb contaminate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contaminate are defile, pollute, and taint. While all these words 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

When can defile be used instead of contaminate?

Although the words defile and contaminate have much in common, 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

When is pollute a more appropriate choice than contaminate?

The synonyms pollute and contaminate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is it sensible to use taint instead of contaminate?

The words taint and contaminate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat
a politician's tainted reputation

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 contaminate After nuclear weapons testing began in 1945, atmospheric radiation contaminated new steel production worldwide. ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025 The plastic baggies also allegedly carried material that was contaminated by the fungus, authorities said. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025 The document also calls for the redirection of groundwater contaminated with toxic pollutants to the Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant, so that the water can be cleaned for beneficial reuse. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 11 June 2025 Iran has nuclear plants buried deep inside mountains, inaccessible to air strikes and others that would, if flattened, contaminate large areas of the Persian Gulf. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for contaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminate
Verb
  • The group is also likely to vote in October on whether to impose financial penalties on some polluting vessels.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
  • The study found many of these areas remain disconnected from national grids and are highly dependent on costly and polluting diesel generators.
    Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Still, no amount of artistic success could heal the rift that had poisoned the group.
    Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025
  • The press, like the government and the judiciary, is part of a system that’s poisoned from within.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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