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
Instead, investigators look at patient samples and interviews, food receipts and information from the food supply chain to determine where the contaminated food likely came from. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 20 July 2026 In February, the district notified the DTSC of its plan to remediate contaminated soil, during which its contractor would cut down 193 trees, among them some that fall under the city’s tree protection ordinance. — Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Verb
Even if they’re changed, the clean utensils can go into tubs of ingredients that have already been contaminated. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026 As crops grow, they may be contaminated by harmful substances in the water or soil, or by the feces of infected people. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 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
  • The germ theory of disease was a huge step forward, helping doctors understand that polluted water sources spread disease, and then helping to develop antibiotics.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • By late Thursday afternoon, Chicago had overtaken Detroit, Minneapolis and Toronto as the most polluted major city in the world, according to Swiss air quality company IQAir.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of polluted
Verb
  • Attackers are also targeting AI solutions themselves with prompt injection attacks, poisoned datasets and other increasingly advanced tactics.
    — Peter Garraghan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Later, when Saeng-gang and her mother leave the palace to hide Saeng-gang’s spirit-hearing abilities, the mother is poisoned by treats sent from the palace.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of poisoned
Adjective
  • Both cooking and cleaning vinegars contain a diluted solution of acetic acid that is safe for use at home.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 July 2026
  • To help mitigate both pests and diseases, isolate the plant and treat infestations with safe, diluted systemic insecticides, such as organic neem oil.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 July 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
  • Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a pathogen in tainted produce, which has already sickened thousands of Americans this summer.
    — Taylor Swinton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
  • As part of the settlement, Latchford’s estate also forfeited a 7th-century bronze statue depicting the goddess Durga, alleged to have been stolen from Vietnam in 2008 and which Latchford allegedly purchased using tainted funds.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of tainted

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contaminate
contaminated
contaminates
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Cite this Entry

“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminated. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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