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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taint
Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Dorit is trying to solve it by sending her kids to visit her parents in Florida for a few weeks, but PK, an ill-fitting thong made out of an alligator’s taint skin, has blocked it just to torture her.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 May 2026
All of the overstuffed albums and Billboard hits he’s racked up since then are tainted with that context.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Dorit is trying to solve it by sending her kids to visit her parents in Florida for a few weeks, but PK, an ill-fitting thong made out of an alligator’s taint skin, has blocked it just to torture her.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill's comments to jurors and other actions tainted the trial, his defense said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 May 2026
All of the overstuffed albums and Billboard hits he’s racked up since then are tainted with that context.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
-
There are so many different stain colors on the market.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 May 2026
-
Will homemade detergent work on tough stains?—
Ryan Brennan
May 13,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Despite evidence that the two got along well enough, rumors spread in Vienna after Mozart’s death that Salieri had poisoned him.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Boys State team Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are behind Teenage Wasteland, which revisits the story of a group of teenagers in upstate New York, who in the early 1990s make a film that uncovers a conspiracy that is poisoning their community.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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See, scientists know human drugs pollute aquatic environments – past studies have shown even anti-anxiety drugs can change how fish act.—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
12 May 2026
-
Toilet paper, a product that is used for a few seconds before being disposed of forever, is typically made with trees, energy-intensive manufacturing processes and chemicals that can pollute the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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There were risks, but he was not considered to have multiple blots on his record.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Add a few drops of mild detergent to warm water and blot the stain with a microfiber cloth rather than scrubbing it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Verb
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In one scene, Little Death lays outrageously bloody waste to the frisky incoming counselors of Camp Miasma (played by Zach Cherry, Quintessa Swindell, and Eva Victor, among others) in a long take set to a needle drop that shouldn’t be spoiled but that adds up to something worthy of blissing out to.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
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That said, Collingwood cautions that soups made with certain ingredients such as dairy, meat, or seafood will spoil faster.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Verb
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An expanding recall linked to powdered milk now includes several popcorn products containing white cheddar seasoning that may be contaminated with Salmonella.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
-
A lot of these products are mislabeled and contaminated.—
Teresa Maalouf,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2026
Noun
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When Azik tries to rid himself of the stigma, calling someone else weak as if to offload the physical weight of the insult, a startling act of violence occurs.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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The condition will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)—the group hopes the new diagnosis will be more accurate, reduce stigma and bolster research.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The grand occasion was almost marred by an accident, the Tribune reported.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Though that 2017 championship is marred by one of the most egregious cheating scandals in baseball history.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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