as in contaminant
something that is or that makes impure
swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized
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Recent Examples of contamination
Spring & Mulberry recalled eight varieties of its chocolate bars after product testing found salmonella contamination; no illnesses have been reported to date.
—
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Hermes has a strict shoe cleaning policy to prevent the cross-contamination of seeds and fauna between islands.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
To reduce the risk of bacterial growth and contamination, store raw meat in a glass container.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
Safely Preparing Juice At Home Pasteurized juice is readily available commercially, but juice made at home is generally not pasteurized and can pose a risk of contamination with dangerous bacteria.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contamination
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Hermes has a strict shoe cleaning policy to prevent the cross-contamination of seeds and fauna between islands.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
To reduce the risk of bacterial growth and contamination, store raw meat in a glass container.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
Safely Preparing Juice At Home Pasteurized juice is readily available commercially, but juice made at home is generally not pasteurized and can pose a risk of contamination with dangerous bacteria.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contamination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contamination
Noun
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As another plus, atmospheric water is free of the contaminants often present in ground sources, such as heavy metals and nitrates.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Those same frigid conditions, however, also make the polar craters efficient traps for modern contaminants, the study suggests.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Air quality varies based on the type of pollutants in the cycle and can have dramatic ramifications for those breathing nearby.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Currently, sewage and industrial waste drops from culvert pipes onto rocks below, creating splashing that releases airborne pollutants including hydrogen sulfide.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contamination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contamination. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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