TAINT Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'taint' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate , defile , and pollute . While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination. // tainted meat // a politician's tainted reputation

Q: When would 'contaminate' be a good substitute for 'taint'?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint , contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. // water contaminated by industrial wastes

Q: When can 'defile' be used instead of 'taint'?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration. // defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Q: When is 'pollute' a more appropriate choice than 'taint'?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute , sometimes interchangeable with contaminate , distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy. // the polluted waters of the river

taint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of taint next

as in stain

a mark of guilt or disgrace that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

taint

2 of 2

verb

ˈtānt

as in to poison

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy a tendency toward conceitedness taints the athlete's status as a role model

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to pollute

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable smog has long tainted the air of the city, making it difficult to breathe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb taint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate, defile, and pollute. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

When would contaminate be a good substitute for taint?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint, contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When can defile be used instead of taint?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is pollute a more appropriate choice than taint?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

Examples 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 taint

Noun

These abuses and others like them must be eliminated and acknowledged as a taint upon 15 centuries of positive work. —

Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 30 July 2024 Moreover, keeping the cadaverous Biden in the White House is a daily reminder to the American people of the feebleness and anemia of the Democratic Party, which taints Harris by association. —

Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024

Verb

But his lawyers continue to wage an aggressive defense on his behalf, attacking the government’s case as tainted by, among other things, a prejudicial leak of footage aired by CNN that showed Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. —

Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024 The border-adjacent city of Imperial Beach and its neighbors have for years been the recipients of wastewater tainted with chemicals and pathogens. —

Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for taint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint

Noun

While detergent, Fels-Naphtha soap and vinegar and baking soda can remove a lot of stains, at some point every t-shirt is beyond saving.

Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024
The daily menu is printed on the paper placemats, which get ringed with wineglass stains or speckled with drops of the olive oil that’s served with the bread.

Ann Abel, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024