1
as in marring
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluting
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
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Recent Examples of tainting
The case has attracted enormous media attention and concerns from both sides about misinformation tainting the potential jury pool.
—
Rebecca Boone,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Thursday’s study is not the first indication that social media may be tainting people’s views on sunscreen and sun safety.
—
Lily Alvino,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Brandy, a 90s R&B mainstay, lied about marrying her daughter’s father in the early aughts for fear of tainting her stardom.
—
Deasia Paige,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Protagonist Jo’s mother disappeared when Jo was a teen, tainting her daughter with the stain of possible witchcraft.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
At a time of intensifying divisions at home, a depiction of Ecuador could offer an Edenic, new-world landscape free from the partisanship tainting Church’s New England landscapes.
—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Now, streaming is tainting the postseason.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Played by cisgender actress Kathleen Turner, Charles proved to be one of the more divisive characters from Friends, tainting its cultural legacy for some critics.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Infected people and dogs had to be prevented from tainting water sources.
—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Rebecca Boone,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Thursday’s study is not the first indication that social media may be tainting people’s views on sunscreen and sun safety.
—
Lily Alvino,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Brandy, a 90s R&B mainstay, lied about marrying her daughter’s father in the early aughts for fear of tainting her stardom.
—
Deasia Paige,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Protagonist Jo’s mother disappeared when Jo was a teen, tainting her daughter with the stain of possible witchcraft.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
At a time of intensifying divisions at home, a depiction of Ecuador could offer an Edenic, new-world landscape free from the partisanship tainting Church’s New England landscapes.
—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Now, streaming is tainting the postseason.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Played by cisgender actress Kathleen Turner, Charles proved to be one of the more divisive characters from Friends, tainting its cultural legacy for some critics.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Infected people and dogs had to be prevented from tainting water sources.
—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainting
Verb
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Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
-
In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.
Verb
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Plastics degrade into microplastics, which in humans have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues, and which are polluting ecosystems from coral reefs to Antarctica.
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The California Air Resources Board has said transportation is responsible for about 38% of these emissions, while the next-most-polluting sector, industrial sources, is responsible for 22% of emissions.
Verb
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Lineage also has contracted with Orkin and Signal Restoration Services to try to keep pests from being drawn to the spoiling food.
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Use fans, essential oils, or porch screens to keep mosquitoes from spoiling your summer nights.
Verb
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One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.
-
Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling.
Verb
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Apply a sealant to the sidewalk, if desired, to prevent future staining.
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The memento, sourced from a Salvation Army, does show some signs of use in the film, including staining, frayed fringe, and some loose threads.
Verb
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Barrera hasn’t turned on Quintero’s air conditioner for fear of contaminating the house.
-
Until the 1990s, the power company disposed of over 1 million tons of coal ash in an unlined storage area in Pines, later contaminating the groundwater that supplied the town of 700.
Verb
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Moonrise will take place across North America in blue hour, when the sky is darkening but still retains color — perfect timing.
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Sweep sidewalks regularly to keep dirt and debris from building up and darkening the color.
Verb
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This was the first day the S & P 500 crossed above the 7500 threshold, touching a high of 7517.
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Urban nature expert Derk Ehlert warned in a post on the city of Berlin website against approaching and touching the caterpillars or their nests.
Cite this Entry
“Tainting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainting. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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