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
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
These symptoms typically appear 3 to 4 days after having eaten or come into contact with tainted food.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
That Anniston’s offer is tainted is a given; that Charles is making a deal with a very bad man is obvious.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Adjective
The film details how the couple allegedly gained influence over key elements of California’s public water system amid intensifying drought, as well as the environmental impact of large-scale agriculture, including the use of chemically tainted wastewater for irrigation.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
These symptoms typically appear 3 to 4 days after having eaten or come into contact with tainted food.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Buggs’ public defender also suggested that Alameda County prosecutors’ case was tainted by that bias.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
That Anniston’s offer is tainted is a given; that Charles is making a deal with a very bad man is obvious.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tainted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tainted
Adjective
-
The river will still become polluted after heavy rainfalls due to runoff from the streets and flushing of city sewage systems.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Discharge of polluted water and discarded electronic components into rivers, groundwater supplies, landfills, or unregulated recycling facilities results in the hazardous materials gradually seeping into surrounding soil and water systems.—
Michaela Rychetska,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Laboratory tests of smuggled samples taken from late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny show that he was poisoned when he was imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony, his widow Yulia Navalnaya has said.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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At the end of Season 2, Broadway thespian Ben Glenroy was poisoned by stage producer Donna DiMeo — then revived just long enough for her son, Cliff, to shove him down an elevator shaft in Season 3.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Then there’s the technical challenge of ensuring the freshwater doesn’t get contaminated by the salty water that lies above and below it.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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In addition, the soil was found to be contaminated with lead, arsenic and other chemicals, a legacy of industrial use prior to the community being developed.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Too many companies try to achieve a laundry list of objectives, resulting in a diluted and less-effective program.—
Erika Andersson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Try using a diluted solution of baking soda and water or dishwasher soap and water.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The track session on Saturday was marred with red and yellow flags due to the number of incidents, and the intermittent raindrops at the end that put many drivers at risk.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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The 2024 season in particular was marred by injuries to some of the offense’s top players in the first two weeks of the season.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Inside the retro-futuristic Discoveryland area of Disneyland Paris, a full-size Star Wars X-Wing fighter sits on a silver and blue platform which looks like it has been weathered and stained from battles.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Doing some research on other things my car needs (truly the theme for this week) and decide a seat cover would be good, since it’s been stained a bit with annoying food spills.—
R29 Team,
Refinery29,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
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The company reported a net loss during the first quarter of $3.9 million, or 11 cents diluted loss per share, compared to a net income of $4.3 million, or 12 cents dilute earnings per share over the same period last year.—
Paul Takahashi,
Houston Chronicle,
5 June 2018
Verb
-
The same colleagues were yet to watch the finale, and for fear of being spoiled, refused to help with my research.—
Thomas Page,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
If even one of them kept score, the dynamic was seemingly spoiled by lower satisfaction across the board.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tainted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tainted. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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