to taint

Examples

• All

• Some of the defense deals are tainted with allegations of corruption and the payment of bribes.

  Academic text (2013)

• The other side taints the image of Islam.

• And a divorce would taint that.

  Blue City (1986)

• But you can't let one person taint the mission of the business.

  Evan Carmichael

• This knowledge might have tainted our results.

  The Apparition (2012)

• The reprehensible ones taint the dignity of the others.

  Roman Candle (2021)

• External support runs the risk of tainting even peaceful opposition as being directed by foreign elements.

  Academic text (2011)

• Accusations of membership were enough to taint aspiring politicians with disloyalty to the supreme leader.

  Academic text (2008)

• The scandal could taint the politician's reputation for years to come.

• One bad review can taint a restaurant's image in the eyes of potential customers.

Synonyms

C

to contaminate

vsto taint

248 4.9

To make things like water or soil unsafe by adding harmful substances

includes that physical contamination but also harm to good name

P

to pollute

vsto taint

109 3.4

To make water, air or land dirty by adding harmful waste

is similar for environmental harm but also applies to reputational damage

P

to poison

vsto taint

97 4.4

To damage a relationship or group by spreading bad ideas

is similar but also covers accidental contamination, not only active corruption

D

to discredit

vsto taint

66 6.3

To harm someone's reputation so others stop trusting them

includes loss of trust but also physical corruption or impurity

T

to tarnish

vsto taint

60 4.9

To make something like metal or a reputation lose its shine

adds the idea of actual impurity or harmful contamination beyond dulling

D

to defile

vsto taint

38 8.6

To make something dirty or harm its reputation

is similar but emphasizes contamination or broader damage rather than only dirt

D

to dirty

vsto taint

14 1.0

To make something unclean or covered with dirt

extends this physical dirt idea to include harm to reputation too

B

to besmirch

vsto taint

• Formal

14 8.8

Make a person or company look bad by saying bad things about them

is broader, applying to physical impurity as well as reputation harm

S

to sully

vsto taint

13 7.6

Make someone's good name seem bad

also covers physical contamination as well as reputational harm

D

to darken

vsto taint

6 3.8

Make people think less of someone after a bad action

is broader, applying equally to physical contamination and reputation damage

T

to tarnish reputation

vsto taint

3 6.0

Damage the respect and good opinion people have of someone or something

is wider, covering both reputation damage and physical contamination

V

to vitiate

vsto taint

• Formal

2 9.9

Make a contract or decision not valid by law

focuses more on harm to usefulness than on physical impurity or reputation

M

to maculate

vsto taint

• Formal

9.9

To make something dirty or spoil its reputation

is more general, including literal contamination as well as moral staining

P

to pox

vsto taint

• Archaic

9.9

To ruin plans or crops, used in old language

is the modern, neutral term covering both physical and reputational harm

Antonyms

C

clean

∞ 1.0

Free from dirt or harmful things

P

to purify

30 4.6

To remove dirt and bad chemicals from water or air to make them clean

How Contaminated

to ruin

∞ 2.0

to pollute

109 3.4

to contaminate

248 4.9

to taint

126 7.3

to stain

113 3.2

to tarnish

60 4.9

Surface Forms

Etymology