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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Wexler regrets one thing: that his campaign had no time to check on who was behind the Noise Pollution Action Fund, as the press did so quickly after he was endorsed — too late in the campaign for Wexler to escape the taint.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were among six tourists who died in November after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers and tourists.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
The trials have been stuck in pretrial hearings, two for more than a decade, that have focused on the taint of their torture; how much the prisoners’ lawyers, and the public, could know about it; and efforts to have cases dismissed because of it.
—Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Wexler regrets one thing: that his campaign had no time to check on who was behind the Noise Pollution Action Fund, as the press did so quickly after he was endorsed — too late in the campaign for Wexler to escape the taint.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
Even if Alonso stays a member of the Mets for the rest of his career and makes his way to Cooperstown, his image of the organization will always be tainted.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were among six tourists who died in November after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers and tourists.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
-
There’s a reserved spot in hell for the s*** stains pursuing this vile campaign to erase trans people.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
17 Feb. 2025
-
For a president who came into office claiming that human rights would be at the crux of his foreign policy, Biden's inability to hold Azerbaijan responsible for its war crimes and atrocities will be a stain on his legacy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Lula was to be poisoned, while Moraes was to be shot by special forces, according to the indictment.—
Brady Knox,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
19 Feb. 2025
-
There’s enough lawbreaking to keep Lou and Henry busy trying to work out who might have poisoned an insufferable tech bro or kidnapped a talentless aspiring actress.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to damaging vegetation, off-road driving can pollute water sources, threaten sensitive cultural and historical sites, endanger wildlife, and disrupt and compact the soil.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The millions of gallons of waste that the pigs generated each year stank horribly and polluted the air and water, turning an otherwise pleasant town into a pigsty.—
Kenny Torrella,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, last year ended in failure, regardless of the points tally, and that is an understandable blot on Farke’s copybook.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
-
To eradicate pet stains from most surfaces, blot or wipe as much as possible with a clean, dry cloth.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
-
Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
This included managing massive radioactive waste sites and ensuring the material there doesn't further contaminate nearby communities.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2025
-
This included managing massive radioactive waste sites and ensuring the material there doesn’t further contaminate nearby communities.—
Tara Copp and Anthony Izaguirre,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Those negotiations are certain to be tricky after a campaign which exposed sharp divisions over migration and how to deal with the AfD in a country where far-right politics carry a particularly strong stigma due to its Nazi past.—
Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The public’s acceptance of psychological terms has made mental health conversations more mainstream—a positive step in reducing stigma.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Audio issues occasionally marred the broadcast, including brief interruptions of Fonda’s speech.—
Jake Coyle,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Feb. 2025
-
But a New York Times analysis of the $55 billion in savings claimed by DOGE found that the math is marred with accounting errors, incorrect assumptions, outdated data and other mistakes.—
Talmon Joseph Smith,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share