Synonyms of taint

taint 1 of 2

noun

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

• stain
• blot
• stigma
• guilt
• smudge
• shame
• slur
• smirch
• brand
• disgrace
• onus
• spot
• discredit
• dishonor
• odium
• ignominy
• infamy
• disrepute
• reproach
• corruption
• obloquy
• sin
• opprobrium
• black eye
• immorality
• vice
• disesteem
• licentiousness
• iniquity
• depravity
• debauchery
• unscrupulousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purity
• credit
• honor
• award
• right
• chastity
• modesty
• integrity
• legitimacy
• good
• chasteness
• goodness
• honesty
• rectitude
• probity
• uprightness
• stainlessness
• righteousness
• glory
• fame
• repute
• scrupulousness
• renown
• virtuousness

taint

2 of 2

verb

ˈtānt 

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

• poison
• spoil
• mar
• stain
• darken
• touch
• tarnish
• vitiate
• blemish
• discredit
• distort
• smear
• degrade
• corrupt
• pollute
• blacken
• soil
• sully
• dirty
• besmirch
• blur
• smudge
• disgrace
• discolor
• tar
• dishonor
• shame
• cloud
• smut
• pervert
• debase
• smirch
• subvert
• sink
• cheapen
• besmear
• demean
• foul
• deprave
• debauch
• lower
• abase
• color
• twist
• demoralize
• bastardize
• begrime

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purify
• cleanse
• elevate
• magnify
• glorify
• uplift
• dignify
• ennoble
• enshrine
• hallow

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

• pollute
• poison
• contaminate
• defile
• befoul
• infect
• foul
• dirty
• stain
• sully
• besmirch
• soil
• dilute
• smudge
• rot
• adulterate
• blacken
• muddy
• mire
• corrupt
• smirch
• spoil
• foul up
• grime
• water down
• begrime
• doctor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purify
• clean
• purge
• cleanse
• clarify
• clear
• filter
• distill
• decontaminate
• sterilize
• disinfect
• sanitize

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb taint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of taint are contaminate, defile, and pollute. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

When would contaminate be a good substitute for taint?

While in some cases nearly identical to taint, contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When can defile be used instead of taint?

The words defile and taint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is pollute a more appropriate choice than taint?

Although the words pollute and taint have much in common, pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of taint

Noun

So long-reaching was the taint of that shame, Kentucky’s Bill Spivey died in Costa Rica, a practical exile after he not only was run out of the college game, he was banned from the NBA, too. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026

Iran, a war targeting regime change and the destruction of its nuclear capacities — laudable goals — also has the suspicious taint of being all about oil. — Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026

Verb

Grand jury proceedings are kept confidential to allow people to testify freely without worrying about consequences and so that the subjects of an investigation are not unfairly tainted before the jury can decide whether to file charges against them. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

The judge also rejected Smart's arguments that the verdict was tainted by media attention and by faulty jury instructions. — CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026