1
as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
be careful, because impure motor oil can damage your car's engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vulgar
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
Victorian notions of what qualified as impure art now strike us as laughable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of impure
What was considered holy at one time was considered impure in other epochs.
—
Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
In any case, playing Bach on a concert grand is an inherently impure act; Bach knew of no such instrument.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
In any case, playing Bach on a concert grand is an inherently impure act; Bach knew of no such instrument.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Two major developments in the mid-1800s showed why impure water is dangerous.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impure
Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
In any case, playing Bach on a concert grand is an inherently impure act; Bach knew of no such instrument.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
In any case, playing Bach on a concert grand is an inherently impure act; Bach knew of no such instrument.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Two major developments in the mid-1800s showed why impure water is dangerous.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impure
Adjective
-
As deadly wildfires raged across Southern California in January, a Los Angeles city official lamented to the city council and others how they were forced to listen to hateful, vulgar language from some members of the public.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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Her choice to respond by telling me to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'calm my p*****' was vulgar, dismissive and escalated the issue entirely.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If conditions persist and there is no clean water or sanitation infrastructure, then people have no choice but to consume contaminated water, says environmental engineer Antarpreet Jutla of the University of Florida.—
Andrea Tamayo,
Scientific American,
15 Aug. 2025
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After the storm, follow local guidance, wear protective gear during cleanup, and avoid contact with wet electrical equipment or contaminated water.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
To authenticate Trump's note and the obscene drawing that accompanied it, Journal reporters claim to have seen the album and talked to people knowledgeable about it.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.—
Liz Roth-Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
12 Feb. 2013
-
However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.—
George Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
8 July 2013
Adjective
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While its early chapters brimmed with connection, the latest reveals strain: diluted trust, fraying fandom, speculative thrill substituting for substance.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Smoosh with your fingers, spritz them off with a sharp stream of water, or spray with diluted rubbing alcohol.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Nationals put up a four-spot against Verlander, the backbreaker being CJ Abrams’ towering two-run shot off the right-field foul pole.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Inspection reports revealed problems with mold, water leaks, dirty equipment and rooms, meat debris stuck on walls and equipment, various bugs, and, at one point, puddles of blood on the floor.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
11 Aug. 2025
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Beyond discomfort and potential allergic reactions, a dirty mattress can also affect the quality of your sleep itself.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.—
Dylan Tokar,
WSJ,
2 Feb. 2023
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And while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that an adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also leading to deaths.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Impure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impure. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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