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
Katie Langford, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The last few seasons were tainted by injuries and inconsistency.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
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
Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
America is not immune from these problems, as the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 was tainted with a bribery scandal.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The last few seasons were tainted by injuries and inconsistency.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Adjective
-
Across the Northern Hemisphere, migratory fish such as salmon, sturgeon and shad have suffered major losses because rivers have been dammed and polluted, while many populations were heavily overfished.—
Zeb Hogan,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Bangladesh and Tajikistan were second and third on the most polluted list.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Any one of them can be poisoned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In Alabama, the punishment for this audacity had most often involved waking up to her family’s dogs poisoned in the night.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The agency removed contaminated soil from 33 residential properties in Whiting and Hammond with lead levels above 1,200 parts per million or were home to pregnant women or children younger than seven years old in 2018 and 2019, according to Post-Tribune archives.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In total, Microsoft has invested $13 billion in OpenAI and, at the time of the AI company’s restructuring in October, disclosed that its 27% diluted stake in the for-profit part of the organization was valued at $135 billion.—
Lora Kolodny,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
To prolong their lifespan, plastic cutting boards can be put in the dishwasher for cleaning; wooden ones can be cleaned with a diluted bleach solution or disinfectant.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But his first year in Philly was marred by knee and adductor injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
However, Brendon’s later career was marred by both physical and mental health issues; the actor underwent spinal surgeries in 2021, followed a year later by a heart attack caused by a congenital heart defect.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillipe’s teeth were often as wine-stained as his customers’.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His hands were stained navy blue.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Verb
-
A week after an early red card spoiled Denver’s inaugural match at Bay FC, Summit FC held on against a top NWSL squad in Orlando Pride on the road, 1-all.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
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When the Blues came to Minneapolis on the first day of 2022 for the Winter Classic at Target Field, Tarasenko scored one of their five goals in the middle frame as the Missourians spoiled the frigid celebration of outdoor hockey culture in Minnesota.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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