Synonym Chooser

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 of contaminate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Keep children and others who have weakened immune symptoms from exposure to pet foods that have been contaminated or pets that have eaten contaminated foods. Devonne Goode, Parents, 23 Oct. 2024 Listeria symptoms Listeria infections are caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024 On October 18, TreeHouse Foods, Inc. issued a voluntary nationwide recall of frozen waffle products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2024 One product contained endotoxin – a toxic substance produced by bacteria – suggesting that it was contaminated with microbes. C. Michael White, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contaminate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contaminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Contaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on contaminate

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