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adulterator

adulterator

9.6
A substance that makes another substance less pure or less effective
  • noun
  • /əˈdʌltəˌreɪtər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : adulterante
  • The laboratory test detected an adulterator in the food sample.

Examples

  • Strict quality controls are needed to prevent any adulterator from entering the drug supply.

  • Many food products contain an adulterator that affects their quality.

  • Removal of every adulterator is crucial for the safety of the final product.

  • The adulterator was caught adding water to the milk.

  • Removal of any adulterator is crucial for ensuring the quality of the medicine.

  • Strict regulations are necessary to stop an adulterator from contaminating healthy foods.

  • The inspection revealed an adulterator in the beverage that compromised its safety.

Synonyms

adulterant
vsadulterator
  • Specialized
1 8.6

Something added to food or medicine to make them impure

focuses on reducing effect rather than the act of being added
dilutant
vsadulterator
  • Specialized
8.7

A substance added to another to make it less strong, like water

reduces purity or effectiveness rather than only lowering concentration
diluter
vsadulterator
4.5

A substance added to something to make it less strong

acts by reducing purity or function rather than merely weakening concentration

Antonyms

purifier
  • Specialized
8 3.5

A machine that cleans water or air by removing harmful substances

How Impure

toxin
  • Specialized
140 5.3
contaminant
31 6.1
adulterator
  • Specialized
9.6
diluent
  • Specialized
1 9.0

Surface Forms

adulterator singular
adulterators plural

Morphology

adulterator = adulterate (transparent) = adulterate + or

Regular agentive nominalization: '-or' added to the verb 'adulterate' yields 'one that adulterates'.

Etymology

The word adulterator comes from the Latin verb adulterare, which means 'to make impure' and shares its idea with adultery, where something becomes 'not pure'. So an adulterator in a product is a substance that 'makes it less pure' or lowers its quality.