as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump
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Recent Examples of contaminate
Select Lot Code - Select Locations in Texas and Louisiana: The recall notice says the water may be contaminated with pseudomonas, which occur naturally in water sources like mineral water and may pose minor health consequences in people with weakened immune systems.
—
Hannah Hudnall, The Courier-Journal, 7 July 2025
Its job is to keep the vial from getting contaminated between patients and potentially getting someone sick, says Dr. Michelle Fiscus, chief clinical officer of the Association of Immunization Managers.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 6 July 2025
The two biggest perks the city gets from the deal are tax money and the cleanup of a site that's been contaminated with toxic chemicals for decades.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The oversight caused lead to leach from the pipes and contaminate the drinking water of thousands of homes.
—Amudalat Ajasa The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contaminate
Hannah Hudnall, The Courier-Journal, 7 July 2025
Its job is to keep the vial from getting contaminated between patients and potentially getting someone sick, says Dr. Michelle Fiscus, chief clinical officer of the Association of Immunization Managers.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 6 July 2025
The two biggest perks the city gets from the deal are tax money and the cleanup of a site that's been contaminated with toxic chemicals for decades.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The oversight caused lead to leach from the pipes and contaminate the drinking water of thousands of homes.
—Amudalat Ajasa The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminate
Verb
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If contaminated floodwater is swallowed, or pollutes drinking water, this can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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For decades, biologists have studied how cities affect wildlife by altering food supplies, fragmenting habitats and polluting the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The health secretary said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are poisoning Americans and driving the obesity epidemic.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 July 2025
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After a week of deliberation, the jury found Erin Patterson lured her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, to lunch at her home and poisoned them with individual servings of Beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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