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
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
In 2018, a Justice Department watchdog report on the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe criticized the FBI and its former director, James Comey, but did not find evidence that political bias tainted the investigation.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
Corruption scandals have brought down several people in Zelensky’s inner circle, including his former business partner Timur Mindich and his long-time right-hand man Andriy Yermak, leading some observers to question whether Zelensky had a tendency to over-rely on tainted allies.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
Otherwise, journalism may be perceived as misleading the audience, prompting people to turn to other sources of information that may be tainted by self-interest rather than public interest.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
In 2018, a Justice Department watchdog report on the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe criticized the FBI and its former director, James Comey, but did not find evidence that political bias tainted the investigation.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Adjective
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The measure was a face-off between supporters who said the community needed more housing and opponents who raised concerns about traffic, wildlife and polluted groundwater from a nearby former landfill.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
-
The purifiers are part of the county’s effort to provide temporary relief to South Bay residents exposed to hydrogen sulfide from the polluted waterway while the United States and Mexico work to address infrastructure failures at a transboundary wastewater treatment facility.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Last year, harmful algae blooming off Southern California poisoned hundreds of dolphins and sea lions off Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, causing strandings along popular beaches.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
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The incident saw former Russian military officer and British intelligence services double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia poisoned in Salisbury, England.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, typically contracted by inhaling spores found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Dec. 2025
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But the signals varied significantly from transit to transit, hinting that the measurements were being contaminated by the star itself.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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To pack an extra punch in your cleaner, add in a few cups of diluted vinegar.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Rural congressional districts, where people often live further apart, tend to be larger because districts are intended to have roughly the same number of residents so one American’s vote is not more diluted than another’s.—
Fritz Farrow,
ABC News,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street announced Tuesday that the 2026 Downtown Days festival will be its last, citing safety concerns after fights, assaults and property damage marred Saturday evening’s event.—
Ian Cummings,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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The March 22 election was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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But dwarf galaxies are smaller and colder, with more dilute and slower-moving matter.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
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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
Verb
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And mid-century doors stained in a rich coral lacquer.—
Jessica Swannie,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Dec. 2025
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Leather and Suede Coats These natural animal hide coats should be cleaned by a professional at the end of the winter season or if they are heavily stained.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.—
Dylan Tokar,
WSJ,
2 Feb. 2023
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And while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that an adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also leading to deaths.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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