taint
Third Person
taints
Present Participle
tainting
Past Tense
tainted
Past Participle
tainted
1
to infect or dirty something with a disease or harmful microorganism
transitive
- The outbreak taints the water supply with harmful bacteria.
- Raw meat can taint other foods in the refrigerator with pathogens.
- Flooding can taint crops with harmful bacteria from sewage.
- The virus tainted surfaces and objects, spreading illness to others.
- Insects can taint stored grains with molds and toxins.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
2
to influence something with a harmful or negative quality
transitive
- The scandal tainted his reputation forever.
- The rumors tainted her view of the whole situation.
- The judge’s decision was tainted by conflict of interest.
- The incident tainted their relationship, and they could never fully trust each other again.