as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace
that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in spoils
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 pollutes
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 taints
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taints
Noun
-
Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a small bowl, then dampen a cloth with the solution and rub it over the stains.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The hilarious post, shared earlier in October by u/time4stew, shows the guilty tuxedo cat laying on the floor with his paws stretched out, as his owner holds him down to photograph his stains.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Frozen Shrimp Shellfish, like shrimp, spoils quickly, which is why many people prefer to purchase frozen shrimp.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Oct. 2025
-
This post spoils Episode 4 of The Morning Show Season 4.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Debris pollutes waterways, cooking fires may spread, and the District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly documented how homeless residents are more likely to be victims of crime.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Most space debris pollutes low-Earth orbit.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
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Valuing a project at cost of production rather than value in an arm’s length sale—common in all economic statistics—especially mars Chinese data.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another asked how to combat stigmas against religions that come from indigenous cultures, such as Yorùbá or Vodou.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The dinners aim to break down racial and neighborhood stigmas in Louisville.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The tree produces an annual fall harvest of walnuts, enclosed in a green husk that darkens when ripe.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Beyond the focus on Egypt, Saleh said Eagles of the Republic touches on wider questions around freedom of expression and compromise.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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Misiorowski throws a fastball that touches 104 mph and a slider that sits in the mid-90s.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This tarnishes my view of Dean.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
7 Aug. 2025
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Ana Luisa Tired of budget-friendly jewelry that tarnishes after just a few wears?—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Taints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taints. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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