impurity

noun

(ˌ)im-ˈpyu̇r-ə-tē How to pronounce impurity (audio)
Definition of impuritynext
1
as in contamination
something that is or that makes impure impurities in the water made it cloudy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene the impurity of her thoughts was troubling, given her strict upbringing

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 impurity The retinol in the formula sloughs away all impurities that lead to the bumps in the first place, while vitamin E and green tea fend off any sensitivities by restoring the moisture barrier. — Mary Honkus, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2026 Sweet crude is cleaner, has fewer impurities and is easier to refine into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel than heavy crude is. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 The second source of unwanted immune response is impurities from mRNA production. — Li Li, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 To break through the water’s tight molecular network, the escaping CO2 relies on nucleation sites—microscopic rough spots, impurities, or foreign objects that disrupt the arrangement of water molecules and allow gas molecules to easily cluster. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impurity
  1. contamination
  2. grossness
  3. contaminant
  4. vulgarity
  5. pollutant
  6. crudeness
  7. suggestiveness
  8. coarseness
Noun
  • About 15 percent of a subset of the products tested contained measurable levels of endotoxin, a sign of bacterial contamination during manufacture.
    — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The researchers hope that in the future it will be used to identify counterfeit perfumes, detect pesticide contamination in olive oil, and offer better quality control across agriculture in general.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of contamination
Noun
  • But Paddy’s isn’t Sudz, and the Gang’s efforts to soft-pedal their antics to be more in line with those mainstream bars devolved into typical Sunny-style hostility and off-putting grossness.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.
    — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Definition of grossness
Noun
  • As catastrophic as the fires were for those who lost everything, people whose homes remain standing have been exasperated by insurance company refusals to cover the removal of lingering hazardous contaminants.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That’s in part due to their handling of homes requiring cleaning due to smoke and other contaminants caused by the fires.
    — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of contaminant
Noun
  • In a sprightly performance rife with oddball mannerisms, Gnecco gives Borges equal parts impish wisdom, earthy vulgarity and childlike wonder, rarely letting a moment’s silence go unfilled with eager chatter.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The distinction between ugliness and vulgarity feels important now.
    — Debbie Millman, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of vulgarity
Noun
  • Facilities would have to be on land zoned for heavy industrial use and could not be located near disadvantaged communities or populations sensitive to pollutants, such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ancient rock art at Murujuga, or the Burrup Peninsula, in Western Australia, has seen much larger damaged than previously anticipated due to industrial pollutants found in air emissions.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pollutant
Noun
  • There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
    — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of crudeness
Noun
  • The Averys also lack the deep, metaphysical suggestiveness of the Gottliebs.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The bucket quickly went viral for its not-safe-for-work suggestiveness.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of suggestiveness
Noun
  • But many seemingly urbane texts also benefited from the intellectual and moral coarseness of their times.
    — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of coarseness

Browse Nearby Words

impurities
impurity
imputation
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Cite this Entry

“Impurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impurity. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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