as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in poisoned
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 contaminated
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
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Recent Examples of tainted
Katherine Dailey, ProPublica, 18 June 2025
The tainted Tylenol bottles had been sold at various drugstores across the Chicago area.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Dec. 2024
The effects of drinking raw milk tainted with bird flu are still uncertain.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
Quality concerns have dogged the industry for years: In 2023, four people died after using tainted eye drops made in India, and others had to have their eyeballs surgically removed.
—Katherine Dailey, ProPublica, 18 June 2025
The tainted Tylenol bottles had been sold at various drugstores across the Chicago area.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
But the appeals court said the appearance of a conflict still tainted Willis’ handling of the case.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Dec. 2024
The effects of drinking raw milk tainted with bird flu are still uncertain.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Verb
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That number includes children, who represent 16 percent of those poisoned and 27 percent of all fatalities.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2025
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And guess what, hospitals are seeing cases of vitamin A toxicity — of kids poisoned by being fed too many vitamins instead of being vaccinated.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Bruner theorizes the worms and their eggs are being moved through contaminated soil, mulch and compost.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
16 July 2025
-
During a flood, avoid floodwaters and move to higher ground immediately; after a flood, avoid contaminated water and wait for authorities to declare the area safe.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
The decision was not marred by procedural unfairness.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Lennon's notoriously troubled upbringing was marred by paternal abandonment, frequent moves, and the sudden death of those closest to him, including his estranged mother Julia.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Target’s first-quarter net earnings increased 10 percent to $1 billion, or $2.27 a diluted share, with a boost from litigation settlements.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
28 July 2025
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But the distinction has become more diluted in recent years, with players pulling out more frequently due to injury, the desire to rest or other obligations.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.—
Liz Roth-Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
12 Feb. 2013
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However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.—
George Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
8 July 2013
Adjective
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The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.—
Dylan Tokar,
WSJ,
2 Feb. 2023
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And while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that an adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also leading to deaths.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2022
Adjective
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Optimum offers higher fiber speeds with no data caps, but at a higher starting cost and mixed customer satisfaction ratings.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
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Helsley was the Cardinals’ big ticket, and rival evaluators had mixed reviews about his return.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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