as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 tainted
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
The severity of the damage usually depends on how much of the tainted gas drivers pumped, Inslee said.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 14 May 2026
Fentanyl test strips, which are decriminalized in Florida, have also helped residents avoid using substances tainted with fentanyl.
—Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
Chinese officials blamed the tainted test results on chemically altered food the athletes had consumed at the time.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
The severity of the damage usually depends on how much of the tainted gas drivers pumped, Inslee said.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
The election beating may have been the final straw for a leader already tainted by his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington despite the veteran politician’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Fentanyl test strips, which are decriminalized in Florida, have also helped residents avoid using substances tainted with fentanyl.
—Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Adjective
-
Once guided by stars across the Empty Quarter, Emiratis now live under one of the world’s most light-polluted skies, prompting new dark-sky policies and growing concern over disappearing night.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
The emergency overflow meant untreated water and polluted stormwater discharged directly into the river.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Just months after Netflix announced its plans to produce the series, Lin was poisoned and killed at age 39.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
There is an effort to dilute the high-pH water in ditches that was contaminated with the large amount of chemicals that spilled, officials said.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
The coal ash contaminated about 260 private wells and soil in dozens of the Town of Pines’ residential yards.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
To clean the rubber gasket and door seal, dampen a clean cloth with diluted vinegar and wipe the seal thoroughly.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
27 May 2026
-
For Deya Xu, associate professor of media studies at East China Normal University in Shanghai, Givenchy’s breakfast controversy reflects larger issues facing luxury brands in China today, namely diluted brand equity and consumption segmentation.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Last night, Tatis’ excellent game was marred by a play that should not have happened.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
-
And despite the five-year time jump between Season Two and Season Three, Euphoria’s tentpole characters remained mired in the same troubles and destructive instincts that marred their high school days.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Not every paramilitary fighter is stained by the corruption of the Shia elite or implicated in spilling innocent blood in recent years.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
26 May 2026
-
Nobody can resist a saucy, savory sloppy joe, but you're bound to leave a sloppy joe meal with at least one article of clothing stained.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
But dwarf galaxies are smaller and colder, with more dilute and slower-moving matter.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
San Francisco spoiled a rare Rockies shutout with a two-run homer in the eighth by Drew Gilbert off reliever Blas Castano.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
This expansion has been rumored/teased for a long while now, and it was set to release during a streaming event tomorrow, but its own launcher spoiled the fun by putting up the announcement early.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
