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
1
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
2
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taint
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 June 2025
Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
The work captures life between Mount Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, where the ground shakes periodically and the fumaroles of the Phlegraean Fields taint the air.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
Some argued that, given the presumptive unethical taint of such collections, human remains should be buried or otherwise respectfully disposed of.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 June 2025
Verb
Suddenly, my spotless record was tainted.
—Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
The work captures life between Mount Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, where the ground shakes periodically and the fumaroles of the Phlegraean Fields taint the air.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
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Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
24 Oct. 2025
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For more stubborn or deep stains, like ink or red wine, combine equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to form a paste.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Leawood police fielded nearly 400 food-poisoning complaints and conducted about 130 interviews, a volume that briefly crashed the department’s records system, according to the Johnson County Post, KSHB 41 and KCTV5.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Chloe then baked a cake poisoned with oleander leaves killing the owner’s wife and some children.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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All of this is brought to us through data centers that consume vast amounts of water and pollute Black neighborhoods in cities like Memphis.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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The attorney general’s office said that plastic retail bags comprise much of the waste that is polluting California’s ecosystems and clogging its waterways.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide and use a white cloth to apply it to the stain and blot gently.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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Let sit for 15-20 minutes, then blot away all the surface moisture.—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For the party’s new leadership, running Libertarian candidates and providing an outlet for their voters’ political perspective isn’t spoiling.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
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The Pistons were whistled for 31 fouls, resulting in 48 Houston free-throw attempts, and still found a way to spoil the Rockets’ home opener.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This Foster Farms recall follows a similar recall initiated in September by The Hillshire Brands Company of approximately 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage on a stick products, also possibly contaminated with pieces of wood in the batter.—
Amber Brenza,
Health,
21 Oct. 2025
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Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods in stores or at home are a place where listeria can keep growing.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Limited mobility, social stigma, and inaccessible spaces make isolation and loneliness a common problem.—
Joni Eareckson Tada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Norton’s father said the Pippins provide the visual icon to fight the stigma that is attached to the conversation around anxiety, depression, and mental health.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement While the commercial supply of goods has improved since the cease-fire deal, the flow of humanitarian aid continues to be marred by bureaucracy, delays, and blockages.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
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Martin starred as one of the NFL’s top running backs a decade ago, in a career that was also marred by injuries and off-field challenges.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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