as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in poisoned
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 contaminated
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tainted
Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
In 2024, for example, the FDA issued warnings about online sales of tainted weight loss supplements.
—Rochelle Blease, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Quispe López, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
One year ago, Martinsville was tainted by race manipulation on two counts.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
Brigadier General Edwin Urrego, commander of the Metropolitan Police, initially told local outlets that seven people had been found dead as a result of consuming the tainted liquor.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
In 2024, for example, the FDA issued warnings about online sales of tainted weight loss supplements.
—Rochelle Blease, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the letter, Radcliffe spoke out against Rowling’s comments and apologized to any Harry Potter fans who have since felt the novel and magical universe has been tainted by the author’s transphobic statements.
—Quispe López, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
One year ago, Martinsville was tainted by race manipulation on two counts.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Adjective
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Instead of this stuff that's raised overseas that's done in ways that doesn't have any checks, that it's got polluted water, it's being fed really nasty stuff, full of antibiotics, full of chemicals.—
Dan Morrison,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Instead of adding external chemicals or excavating polluted layers, the soil itself becomes a dynamic system capable of regenerating its quality over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Notions had persisted that Brahe was poisoned to death with mercury, but later analyses of his bones and teeth disproved the idea.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
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There’s often an arch detachment where the singer tries to pretend as though they haven’t actually been poisoned by being online themselves.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Officials issued a boil water advisory for the affluent Incline Village, a wealthy Lake Tahoe community, warning the California tech elites who live there not to drink the water amid concerns it could be contaminated with fecal matter.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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The restaurant was also dinged after an inspector noticed there was no soap at the employee handwashing sink and a slicer stored as clean contaminated with food debris.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Net profit fell to $51 million, or 40 cents per diluted share, from $189 million in the year-earlier quarter.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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If peppers bloom, hand-pollinate the flowers with an old makeup brush, and lightly feed your plants with a diluted application of organic liquid fertilizer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This dynamic marred the 2012-13 Hurricane Sandy package and has recurred in other disaster bills, not because relief is illegitimate but because speed plus political cover invites provisions that would die in regular order.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sook’s comments followed Nexstar’s report of quarterly results, which were marred by the absence of political advertising compared with the same quarter in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Worn Plastic Containers Are your plastic containers stained, smelly, cracked, half-melted, or turning rough like sandpaper?—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
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The costume, which has made waves online, features Fox in a pink suit stained with fake blood, meant to resemble the former first lady shortly after the assassination of her husband.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
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For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Verb
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The Toronto Blue Jays nearly ended their 32-year World Series drought, but the Los Angeles Dodgers spoiled their hopes in Game 7.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Staff members spoiled him with attention, and Burrow left looking fluffy, clean, and happy for the rest of the day.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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