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
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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
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Recent Examples of taint
Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Catholicism offers ritual without the tedium of rationality; anarchism offers revolutionary action against inequality without the taint of materialism, the prospect of personal gain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
In the filing, Taylor argued that a TV episode about the case has the potential to taint the jury pool.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Noun
Bonus: The vast majority of Aussie wines are sealed with screw caps, regardless of price, which equals consistency, longer aging, and zero risk of cork taint.
—Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025
Catholicism offers ritual without the tedium of rationality; anarchism offers revolutionary action against inequality without the taint of materialism, the prospect of personal gain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
When Maris slammed his 61st home run to surpass Ruth, many Yankee fans, the media and Ford Frick, baseball’s commissioner at the time, said the accomplishment was tainted.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
In the filing, Taylor argued that a TV episode about the case has the potential to taint the jury pool.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taint
Noun
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Adding in a few drops of dish soap to the solution can help lift the stains and water spots for spotless windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Original price: $94.99 A Bissel Little Green cleaner tackles spills and pet stains while also removing pet hair, dander and dust from your furniture and carpets.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
10 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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Throughout a trial lasting more than two months, Patterson maintained the beef-and-pastry dish was accidentally poisoned with death cap mushrooms, the world’s most-lethal fungus.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
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
Noun
-
This blot on our state suggests the need for a constitutional amendment to make the office safely independent of the governor.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 June 2025
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In Tunisia, President Kais Saied has notoriously imprisoned political opponents, destroying the judiciary, and diminished parliament to an ink blot.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Floodwaters can be contaminated with debris, as well as high levels of bacteria, chemicals, waste and other pollutants, which can cause prolonged health risks, the experts said.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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United Natural Foods, Inc., based in Rhode Island, announced the voluntary recall for the products on June 7 after they were possibly contaminated with fluid from a reach truck.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Many prominent men across sports, music, business and politics have opened up about their mental health struggles, helping to chip away at the persistent stigma that discourages men from seeking help.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
6 July 2025
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Although the group’s compound was razed, the locals are still trying to shake the stigma.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
Verb
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The Mets go the way of Francisco Lindor, and he’s been marred in his own slump this month.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
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The last weekend of June in Indianapolis was marred by a rash of shootings that left seven dead and nine others injured.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taint. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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