as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
the outbreak of food poisoning was traced to adulterated ground beef
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in diluted
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
the company was fined for adulterating its "all beef" frankfurters with cereal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adulterated
chicagotribune.com, 9 Dec. 2021
Navarro and Rhein pleaded guilty to their roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2021
Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2025
Fruits, leafy greens and other produce can become adulterated with listeria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of said growing area to livestock, USA TODAY previously reported.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adulterated
Adjective
Brasch, 61, of Skokie, is specifically charged with receipt in interstate commerce and delivery of an adulterated device, the release said.
—chicagotribune.com, 9 Dec. 2021
Navarro and Rhein pleaded guilty to their roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2021
Verb
Some olive oils are adulterated, meaning that other substances may be added to them to lower their quality—and often manufacturing costs—while increasing the amount in the bottle.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2025
Fruits, leafy greens and other produce can become adulterated with listeria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of said growing area to livestock, USA TODAY previously reported.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adulterated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterated
Adjective
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State officials issued islandwide brown water advisories for Oahu and Maui after storms sent polluted runoff into coastal waters.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The South Asian nation ranked the world’s most polluted country in 2025, according to the report.—
Esha Mitra,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the Universe diluted enough, that curvature term could even someday become dominant!—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
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As the cultural background of Sacramento’s Little Italy Historic District has become diluted in recent decades, one small business in the area is celebrating a major milestone and still honoring its Italian roots.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Swimming in contaminated water can lead to gastroenteritis that appears up to 12 days later, or other types of infections or illnesses.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Crews spent hours after the fire was out taking inventory and clearing out contaminated equipment.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The case has it all — backroom deals, bribes, tainted legislation, dark money contributions — even the suicide of a prominent official at the center of the scandal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Those officers are no longer allowed to testify in criminal court cases because of their tainted reputation.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the city, reactions are more mixed within the Arab elite class, causing a rift between the business community and the intellectuals.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
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The factual basis for broader perceptions of gay prosperity is mixed.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Diageo seemed to be thinking about that with the launch of Johnnie Walker Black Cask, a blended whisky that is supposed to appeal to bourbon drinkers.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the arrival of new siblings—especially in blended families—can also scramble existing roles and trigger fresh feelings of loss or displacement.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adulterated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterated. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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