as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025
At least four families have sued infant formula maker ByHeart saying their babies contracted botulism from contaminated formula, as the company faces ongoing scrutiny from federal investigators and a separate class action lawsuit filed last week.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
But by then, decades of unregulated waste disposal had contaminated sites all over the country.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contaminated
Adjective
As Thanksgiving is upon us, millions of Americans are getting ready to cook mountains of food and trying new recipes, but beware, as food recalls for contaminated products are currently underway.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025
At least four families have sued infant formula maker ByHeart saying their babies contracted botulism from contaminated formula, as the company faces ongoing scrutiny from federal investigators and a separate class action lawsuit filed last week.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Verb
Jane Lawton Potelle founded Eaton Fire Residents United, a grassroots organization of residents with still-standing homes contaminated by the Eaton fire.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
But by then, decades of unregulated waste disposal had contaminated sites all over the country.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contaminated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminated
Adjective
-
The state also has an above average number of polluted waterways and more coal ash ponds — small, toxic water bodies near coal plants where poisonous refuse is discarded — than any other state.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Webster believes that Bongino and Patel have become polluted by the same swamp that Trump has again and again vowed to clean up.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Residents are also urged to watch children closely while playing outdoors where mushrooms grow and to keep pets away, since animals can be poisoned as well.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In June 2024, Bich poisoned a fourth relative — a teenager — who survived after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family, the outlets reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Net profit fell to $51 million, or 40 cents per diluted share, from $189 million in the year-earlier quarter.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If peppers bloom, hand-pollinate the flowers with an old makeup brush, and lightly feed your plants with a diluted application of organic liquid fertilizer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
-
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Adjective
-
Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Clostridium botulinum can be unevenly spread throughout powdered formula, so not all babies who consume a tainted product will fall ill, according to medical experts.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminated. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share