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
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 taint
Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Catholicism offers ritual without the tedium of rationality; anarchism offers revolutionary action against inequality without the taint of materialism, the prospect of personal gain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2025
The allegations of corruption and law enforcement tainting the investigation into O’Keefe’s death was a galvanizing force for Read’s supporters.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
Bonus: The vast majority of Aussie wines are sealed with screw caps, regardless of price, which equals consistency, longer aging, and zero risk of cork taint.
—Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Catholicism offers ritual without the tedium of rationality; anarchism offers revolutionary action against inequality without the taint of materialism, the prospect of personal gain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
The more tense scenes arrive in the form of the Jackson 5’s overbearing, exploitative father Joseph (Matt Mills), and the various allegations that have tainted the star’s legacy leading up to and since his 2009 death are quietly alluded to.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2025
The allegations of corruption and law enforcement tainting the investigation into O’Keefe’s death was a galvanizing force for Read’s supporters.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
-
Curious how a simple coffee stain could inspire cutting-edge diagnostics and revolutionize at-home testing?—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 July 2025
-
The Boll & Branch is more than durable linens, the Wood Frame bed is artisan-made of solid wood with maple and beechwood veneers that uses low VOC stains (oak-like bluff and dark espresso brown).—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Silverstein poisons her argument, and thus grossly diminishes it, by introducing these political considerations that have nothing to do with antisemitism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 July 2025
-
The algae have poisoned more than 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) of the state’s waters – an area larger than Rhode Island – littering beaches with carcasses and ravaging an area known for its diversity.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
If contaminated floodwater is swallowed, or pollutes drinking water, this can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
-
For decades, biologists have studied how cities affect wildlife by altering food supplies, fragmenting habitats and polluting the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Wipe the area with a cloth dampened with cold water, then blot with a fresh sponge.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
-
This blot on our state suggests the need for a constitutional amendment to make the office safely independent of the governor.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
-
Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Less clear is the cancer-causing potential of talc when it’s not contaminated.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
23 July 2025
-
The material, which is not contaminated, is being redeposited in nearby bird sanctuaries and new islands formed within the lake system.—
Nolan McKendry,
The Washington Examiner,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Butler believes that despite more people being open about their procedures, there is still a stigma in the adult film industry against men getting them.—
Oren Peleg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
-
There are so many places around the world where having a disability has such a strong stigma.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
Verb
-
During questioning at the Austin Police Department, Mejia marred her credibility and inadvertently presented herself as a compulsive liar by initially telling police different stories about how Casiano was burned.—
Bianca Moreno-Paz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
Processing The Hulkster’s legacy in real-time is tough — not just because of his greatness, but because of the blemishes that marred his career inside and outside the ring.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share