as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to poison
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 to pollute
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of taint
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Feb. 2026
The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
All the major international aid agencies including the Red Cross have been tainted by the aid scandal.
—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
But soon, she was flooded with emotions from the hardships caused by the taint of her husband being considered a suspect.
—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Feb. 2026
The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
So these stories are going to get adjusted and tainted, or they’ll sometimes get distilled down to something more essential.
—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
All the major international aid agencies including the Red Cross have been tainted by the aid scandal.
—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
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The puncture left a hole in his sock between his big and middle toes, where a red stain formed.
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The latter would put a permanent stain on the 2026 World Cup and potentially damage the future of the sport in the United States.
Verb
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The special bond between Supergirl and her scruffy animal sidekick becomes a key plot point in Kara’s new solo movie, where Krypto is poisoned by space outlaw Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
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Kara Zor-El (Alcock) goes on a planet-hopping mission to save her beloved Krypto – with young and vengeful girl Ruthye (Eve Ridley) in tow – after he’s poisoned by the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
Verb
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The solution is to support federal and state legislation that encourages lower-cost, less-polluting renewable energy to speed up the transition away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
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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.
Noun
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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.
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Allow the garment to soak for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove it from the detergent solution and blot with a white paper towel or cloth.
Verb
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Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?
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Both suet and hummingbird nectar are very susceptible to spoiling from the heat.
Verb
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Intestinal infections, which caused severe diarrhea and dehydration, were common in 1776 because of poor sanitation and contaminated food and water, especially in military camps, per NIH and NLM.
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It is caused by eating or drinking food contaminated with either bacteria, viruses, parasites or a harmful toxin.
Noun
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Biddinger hopes the shrine at Queen of Heaven will help diminish the stigma that still often surrounds suicide.
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Experts say the misconceptions have often delayed diagnosis and brought stigma for children and their families.
Verb
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The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
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His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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