Synonyms of contaminating

contaminating

verb

present participle of contaminate

as in polluting

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

• polluting
• poisoning
• tainting
• infecting
• defiling
• befouling
• fouling
• dirtying
• diluting
• staining
• soiling
• sullying
• besmirching
• corrupting
• rotting
• smudging
• blackening
• adulterating
• muddying
• spoiling
• miring
• fouling up
• griming
• watering down
• smirching
• begriming
• doctoring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleaning
• purifying
• clearing
• clarifying
• purging
• cleansing
• distilling
• decontaminating
• filtering
• sterilizing
• disinfecting
• sanitizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contaminating

How Monster Depicts the Borden Murders Their first attempt involves serving the couple oysters in May, when the series says the city of Fall River dumps its sewage over the oyster beds, contaminating the shellfish with potentially fatal bacteria. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Of course, a yeast that can survive on Mars is … well, a yeast that can survive on Mars, which could actually risk contaminating the planet with hardy and fast-multiplying Earth microbes. — Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2026

In the 1920s, a modest mercury mine grew into a large open-pit operation, contaminating the watershed with the toxic metal. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Tiny pieces may begin to fall off, contaminating your food, while those with a crack in them can foster bacteria growth. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Even the regular, gluten pizzas are tossed with rice flour, to avoid wheat flour contaminating the surfaces in the kitchen. — Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Once the gold is separated, the mercury is released into the rivers, contaminating water sources and fish essential to Indigenous life. — Gabriela Sa Pessoa, Fortune, 24 July 2026

The district, which plans to send out an inspector, could determine whether wind carrying coal dust stored nearby may be contaminating the sugar. — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Barrera hasn’t turned on Quintero’s air conditioner for fear of contaminating the house. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 June 2026