Tainted — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈtān-təd/ taint·ed

Meaning & Definition of Tainted

Tainted (adjective)

  1. altered from a pure state or condition
  2. contaminated by or as if by dirt, impurities, or harmful organisms
  3. corrupted morally or ethically

Tainted (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. containing foreign or lower-grade substances

    "tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink"

    similar: adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, thinned, weakened
    related: unclarified, unfiltered, unrefined, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, corrupted, debased, defiled, dirtied, fouled, maculate, soiled, spoiled, sullied, blended, commingled, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, mixed, coalesced, combined, compounded, cheapened, doctored
    opposite: fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted
    near: clarified, filtered, purified, refined, ultrarefined, neat, plain, straight, concentrated, strong, uncombined, pasteurized, sterile, sterilized, clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied

Tainted (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: blemished, darkened, marred, poisoned, spoiled, stained, tarnished, touched, vitiated
    related: begrimed, besmeared, besmirched, blackened, blurred, clouded, dirtied, discolored, polluted, smeared, smirched, smudged, smutted, soiled, sullied, tarred, abased, cheapened, debased, degraded, demeaned, discredited, disgraced, dishonored, fouled, lowered, sank, shamed, bastardized, corrupted, debauched, demoralized, depraved, perverted, subverted, colored, distorted, twisted
    near: cleansed, purified, dignified, elevated, ennobled, enshrined, glorified, hallowed, magnified, uplifted

  2. 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"

    similar: befouled, contaminated, defiled, fouled, poisoned, polluted
    related: infected, begrimed, besmirched, blackened, dirtied, fouled up, grimed, mired, muddied, smirched, smudged, soiled, stained, sullied, corrupted, rotted, spoiled, adulterated, doctored, diluted, watered down
    opposite: decontaminated, purified
    near: clarified, cleaned, cleansed, cleared, distilled, purged, filtered, disinfected, sanitized, sterilized

Related Entry: Taint (verb)

Taint is a different word from Tainted. The synonyms below are for taint, not for tainted.

  1. 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"

    similar: blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate
    related: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar, abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink, bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert, color, distort, twist
    near: cleanse, purify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

  2. 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"

    similar: befoul, contaminate, defile, foul, poison, pollute
    related: infect, begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully, corrupt, rot, spoil, adulterate, doctor, dilute, water down
    opposite: decontaminate, purify
    near: clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill, purge, filter, disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tainted

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tainted:

adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, thinned, weakened, blemished, darkened, marred, poisoned, spoiled, stained, tarnished, touched, vitiated, befouled, defiled, fouled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tainted

Words with the opposite meaning of Tainted:

fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted, decontaminated, purified

Related Words for Tainted

unclarified, unfiltered, unrefined, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, corrupted, debased, dirtied, maculate, soiled, sullied, blended, commingled, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, mixed, coalesced, combined, compounded, cheapened, doctored, besmeared, blackened, blurred, clouded, discolored

Near Antonyms of Tainted

clarified, filtered, refined, ultrarefined, neat, plain, straight, concentrated, strong, uncombined, pasteurized, sterile, sterilized, clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied, cleansed, dignified, elevated, ennobled, enshrined, glorified, hallowed, magnified, uplifted, cleaned, cleared

Origin & Etymology of Tainted

First known use: 1577

Frequently Asked Questions about Tainted

What does "Tainted" mean?

"Tainted" means altered from a pure state or condition. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: altered from a pure state or condition. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tainted"?

Other words for "Tainted" include adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure and polluted. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tainted" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tainted"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tainted". Common alternatives include adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, impure, polluted, thinned and weakened.

What is the opposite of "Tainted"?

Antonyms of "Tainted" include fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut and undiluted. Near antonyms include clarified, filtered, refined and ultrarefined.

How do you use "Tainted" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tainted" in a sentence: "tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink"; "criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy"; "a tendency toward conceitedness taints the athlete's status as a role model".

Is "Tainted" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tainted" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Tainted"?

"Tainted" is pronounced /ˈtān-təd/ and divided into syllables as taint·ed.

What is the origin of the word "Tainted"?

First known use: 1577.