Thesaurus

taint

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of taint

a mark of guilt or disgrace

that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations

Synonyms of taint

blot, brand, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stain, stigma

Words Related to taint

discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

corruption, depravity, immorality, iniquity, sin, vice

Near Antonyms of taint

award, credit, honor

chasteness, chastity, modesty, purity, stainlessness

honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, uprightness

goodness, righteousness, virtuousness

taint

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of taint

1 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 that athlete's status as a role model.

Synonyms of taint

blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Words Related to taint

begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, soil, sully, tar

abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink

bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert

Near Antonyms of taint

cleanse, purify

dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

2 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

Smog has long tainted the air of that city, making it difficult to breathe.

Synonyms of taint

befoul, contaminate, defile, foul, poison, pollute

Words Related to taint

begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

corrupt, rot, spoil

adulterate, doctor

dilute, water down

Near Antonyms of taint

clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill (also distil), purge

disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

Antonyms of taint

decontaminate, purify

Synonym Discussion of taint

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

- water contaminated by industrial wastes

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

- tainted meat
- a politician's tainted reputation

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

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

Learn More about taint

See words that rhyme with taint Dictionary: Definition of taint Spanish Central: Translation of taint Nglish: Translation of taint for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of taint for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up taint? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

quail

play

to recoil in dread or terror

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games