CONTAMINATE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'contaminate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contaminate are defile , pollute , and taint . While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. // water contaminated by industrial wastes

Q: When can 'defile' be used instead of 'contaminate'?

Although the words defile and contaminate have much in common, 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

Q: When is 'pollute' a more appropriate choice than 'contaminate'?

The synonyms pollute and contaminate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'taint' instead of 'contaminate'?

The words taint and contaminate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination. // tainted meat // a politician's tainted reputation

contaminate

verb

kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt

Definition of contaminate next

as in to pollute

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump

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How does the verb contaminate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contaminate are defile, pollute, and taint. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," 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 contaminate?

Although the words defile and contaminate have much in common, 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 contaminate?

The synonyms pollute and contaminate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is it sensible to use taint instead of contaminate?

The words taint and contaminate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

Examples 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 contaminate The reason is equality obvious: in most jobs, particularly knowledge economy jobs, performance evaluations are contaminated by subjectivity, politics, and impressions. —

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 But nobody knows how much of that fertilizer is contaminated with PFAS, which can be absorbed by crops and consumed by livestock, and then enter the food supply. —

Alejandra Martinez, Austin American-Statesman, 9 Dec. 2024 Outdoor cats can also be exposed to bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals and by being in environments contaminated with the virus, or by consuming unpasteurized milk from infected cows. —

Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024 Among healthy people, eating food contaminated with salmonella often results in symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, which usually pass within a week. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contaminate