as in pollutes
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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Recent Examples of contaminates
Coal burning power plants are also significant producers of carbon dioxide, a planet-warming gas, and once burned, the fuel leaves a dangerous ashy residue that readily contaminates groundwater and is difficult to remediate.
—
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
These cards may contain batteries or nonrecyclable material that contaminates other paper.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Untreated nitrogen often contaminates groundwater and causes algal blooms that damage ecosystems.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
Leached water from textile waste in landfills contaminates groundwater with harmful chemicals and dyes, which can alter the pH and clarity of surface water.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
These cards may contain batteries or nonrecyclable material that contaminates other paper.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Untreated nitrogen often contaminates groundwater and causes algal blooms that damage ecosystems.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
Leached water from textile waste in landfills contaminates groundwater with harmful chemicals and dyes, which can alter the pH and clarity of surface water.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminates
Verb
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As my colleague Iris Kwok explains, that’s due to the state’s higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Climate change, industrial pollution, inadequate sanitation that pollutes drinking water sources with human waste — these are all factors in the water crisis.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contaminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminates. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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