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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taints
Noun
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Removing Stains From Linoleum Floors Linoleum floors can get stains and discoloration from heavy foot traffic, food spills, pets, or heavy furniture that's been sitting on them for some time.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025 -
Still, sometimes the heat is impossible to ignore — evident in the small sweat stains on Dinkel’s blue collared shirt.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Farmers don’t typically grow pawpaws because the raw fruit spoils easily and is difficult to ship, according to the Kansas State University Extension Office.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Aug. 2025
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This post spoils the entirety of My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2, specifically the finale.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Moreover, the use of harsh chemicals pollutes water and soil during lithium extraction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2025
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Excessive fertilizer pollutes both soil and water systems.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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The National Alliance on Mental Health said barriers to services based on socioeconomic backgrounds, stigmas surrounding mental health and provider bias can cause inequalities in care and lead to misdiagnosis or people not receiving care at all.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Sep. 2025
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Since then Baz has seemed determined to smash stigmas around pregnancy and breastfeeding.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The radiant point of the Perseids is the constellation Perseus, which, from the Northern Hemisphere, rises in the northeast as the sky darkens during August.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Blocking the sunlight also darkens his living spaces.—
Roxana Popescu,
Mercury News,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The concept touches on many of the topics driving political debate across the United States, from criminal justice reform and diversity, equity, and inclusion to affirmative action and immigration.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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These touches not only boost revenue but also reduce manual effort.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Taints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taints. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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