taint

1 of 3

verb

tainted; tainting; taints

transitive verb

1
: to contaminate morally : corrupt
scholarship tainted by envy
2
: to affect with putrefaction : spoil
3
: to touch or affect slightly with something bad
persons tainted with prejudice

intransitive verb

1
: to become affected with putrefaction : spoil
2
obsolete : to become weak

taint

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural taints
: a contaminating mark or influence
the taint of scandal
taintless adjective

taint

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural taints
vulgar slang
: the area between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia : perineum
Choose the Right Synonym for taint

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile 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

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat
a politician's tainted reputation

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

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

Examples of taint in a Sentence

Verb criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy a tendency toward conceitedness taints the athlete's status as a role model Noun (1) that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
About the same time as his relationship with Diaz began, the rapper had sought to improve his image, which was still tainted by the controversy over his serving as an informant, according to the Broward lawsuit filed by QR Joy. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2024 The travelers — two from Australia, two from Denmark, one from United Kingdom and one from United States — are believed to have consumed alcohol tainted with methanol, which is sometimes illegally added to regular or home-brewed alcohol to cut costs. Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
The sordid origin story of infidelity that explains Elphaba’s birth and dysfunctional family taints everything that follows. Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024 But their chances of finding employment or a project or business to invest in remain slim, owing to their citizenship and the taint of the Russian corporate world. Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for taint 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English teynten to color & taynten to attaint; Middle English teynten, from Anglo-French teinter, from teint, past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere; Middle English taynten, short for attaynten — more at tinge, attain

Noun (2)

respelling of 'tain't, contraction of it ain't, implying that this area of the body is neither the anus nor the genitalia

First Known Use

Verb

1573, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1601, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of taint was in 1573

Dictionary Entries Near taint

Cite this Entry

“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taint. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

taint

1 of 2 verb
1
: to touch or affect slightly with something bad
2

taint

2 of 2 noun
1
: a trace of decay : stain
2
: a spoiling influence
taintless adjective

Legal Definition

taint

transitive verb
: to damage or destroy the validity of
evidence tainted by an illegal search
taint noun

More from Merriam-Webster on taint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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