taint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of taintnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

taint

2 of 2

verb

ˈtānt How to pronounce taint (audio)
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb taint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate, defile, and pollute. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat
a politician's tainted reputation

When would contaminate be a good substitute for taint?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint, contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When can defile be used instead of taint?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is pollute a more appropriate choice than taint?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

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
Noun
Chapter 7 Delaware Bay Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty. —CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025 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
Verb
The decision came in response to challenges from criminal defense attorneys, who argued their clients’ prosecutions were tainted because Habba was kept in place despite not previously serving as the first assistant to the office. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2025 Two east metro sites known to be tainted with petroleum and other contaminants will soon be on the mend thanks to grant funding. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
  1. stain
  2. poison
  3. pollute
  4. blot
  5. spoil
  6. contaminate
  7. stigma
  8. mar
Noun
  • Pre-treat any stains with a mild stain remover and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain as possible prior to washing.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.
    — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of stain
Verb
  • In pre-trial evidence released last month, Erin's ex-husband Simon also accused Erin of attempting to fatally poison him on multiple occasions, per the BBC.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The patients allegedly poisoned were between the ages of 4 and 89, according to Le Monde.
    — Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of poison
Verb
  • What To Know The annual $1 billion allocation comes from California's cap-and-invest program, which collects fees from polluting industries.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Farmers overapplying them in their fields can cause nitrogen-laden runoff that pollutes water and the air.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of pollute
Noun
  • Red Wine or Dark-Colored Food Stains As quickly as possible, lift away any solids and blot, blot, blot away the moisture.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of blot
Verb
  • Holding on for a win on Saturday finally allowed the Padres to gain a game in the NL West on the on Dodgers, who lost a fifth straight when the Orioles spoiled a no-hitter with two outs and ultimately walked off a win.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Besides, if one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel, then just imagine the good that Maria could do by removing it from the rest of the bunch.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Products contaminated with methanol (also called wood alcohol) are very dangerous when applied to the skin or consumed.
    — Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op is recalling specific cheese products due to concerns that they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
    — Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of contaminate
Noun
  • The National Alliance on Mental Health said barriers to services based on socioeconomic backgrounds, stigmas surrounding mental health and provider bias can cause inequalities in care and lead to misdiagnosis or people not receiving care at all.
    — Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Efforts should also prioritize public education, reducing stigma, and strengthening support for families and schools caring for individuals with autism.
    — Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of stigma
Verb
  • Boy Meets World — Savage’s comedy legacy has been marred by multiple misconduct allegations over the years.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Holes marred the walls in the kitchen under the dish machine, dry storage and dish storage rooms.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of mar

Browse Nearby Words

tailwinds
taint
tainted
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Cite this Entry

“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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