contaminated 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd How to pronounce contaminated (audio)
Definition of contaminatednext
as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

contaminated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contaminate
as in poisoned
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contaminated
Adjective
The life-threatening species that's found in water can also sicken or kill people who eat contaminated seafood, such as raw oysters infected with the bacteria. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Every dollar a family spends on cancer treatment or a hospital stay tied to contaminated water is a dollar that better rules could have saved them. — Alex Burton, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
The parasite usually spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 July 2026 Backyard flocks usually contract bird flu through direct contact with infected wild birds, such as migratory ducks and geese, or indirectly through environments contaminated by wild bird saliva, nasal secretions and droppings. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for contaminated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminated
  1. polluted
  2. poisoned
  3. diluted
  4. dilute
  5. tainted
Adjective
  • If one neighborhood is highly polluted but nearby communities aren’t, county-level averages would show an overall low level of pollution – even though the more detailed information would reveal a major problem to be addressed in one particular area.
    — Mark Axelrod, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • Mayflies lay up to 10,000 eggs in the water, and their nymphs can't survive in water that is polluted.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
Definition of polluted
Verb
  • Bowles told jurors Millete was angry at May over her yearlong affair with another man and likely poisoned her with the toxic plant hemlock.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Many of her victims were poisoned and buried around the boarding house, with Puente cashing their social security checks.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 7 July 2026
Definition of poisoned
Adjective
  • If your oregano, mint, or other herbs have begun to flower, give them a hard haircut and a little diluted fertilizer.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026
  • By contrast, brewing coffee takes several minutes, resulting in a lighter, more diluted drink.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of diluted
Adjective
  • Clean and disinfect your pruning shears between working on each plant by dipping them into a dilute 10% solution of chlorine bleach water or rubbing alcohol.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • But dwarf galaxies are smaller and colder, with more dilute and slower-moving matter.
    — Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
Definition of dilute
Adjective
  • Close to half of the cases of foodborne illness caused by Vibrio vulnificus have resulted in death, and some within 24 hours after consumption of tainted shellfish such as raw oysters.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Another juvenile in detention passed around the tainted jug, according to the suit.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of tainted

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contaminated
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Cite this Entry

“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminated. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of contaminated for Spanish Speakers

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