taints 1 of 2

noun

plural of taint
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations

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taints

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of taint
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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of taints
Verb
That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026 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
  1. stains
  2. spoils
  3. pollutes
  4. blots
  5. poisons
  6. stigmas
  7. mars
  8. darkens
Noun
  • And some tree fruits, such as mulberries and cherries, can leave stains on siding, roofs, and decks that are difficult to remove.
    — Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
  • Remove Mold Stains From Painted Walls Kill mold spores and lighten moldy stains by spraying the area with undiluted hydrogen peroxide.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • This post spoils the entirety of Season 1 of Netflix‘s Little House on the Prairie, particularly the finale episode.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 July 2026
  • Nothing spoils a good night's sleep quite like a hot, stuffy house.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 26 June 2026
Definition of spoils
Verb
  • Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air.
    — Ed Maibach, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Definition of pollutes
Noun
  • Dabbing the cloth in rubbing alcohol, working away the dirty blots on the glass, waiting for the haze in my head to focus, and a new line to come to me.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Definition of blots
Verb
  • Despite her initial disinterest, Kara develops a personal stake when Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), the one who killed Ruthye's parents and brother, poisons her dog Krypto.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Definition of poisons
Noun
  • The whole project ties together as a powerful critique of modern mental health stigmas and sexism, as history's witch hunts were byproducts of multiple layers of prejudice and misunderstanding.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
  • Social-media platforms are filled with short-form videos that clumsily grapple with stigmas surrounding height supremacy.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of stigmas
Verb
  • Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Jacob Whitehead Homophobic chant mars Mexico’s win Before the World Cup, the Mexican football federation launched a campaign that featured the heroes of the country’s 1986 World Cup side.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of mars
Verb
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture darkens slightly, about 3 minutes.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 June 2026
  • Citizen scientists are invited to build their own instrument to measure changes that occur in the atmosphere when the sky momentarily darkens.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
Definition of darkens

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taintless
taints
taipan
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Cite this Entry

“Taints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taints. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of taints for Spanish Speakers

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