contaminated 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd How to pronounce contaminated (audio)
Definition of contaminatednext
as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

contaminated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contaminate
as in poisoned
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contaminated
Adjective
Massachusetts has seen more than 100 cyclospora cases this summer, the state Department of Public Health said Wednesday, with some illnesses apparently linked to contaminated lettuce. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
First a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis — a parasitic illness that can cause ‘explosive diarrhea’ — was linked to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce, sickening nearly 11,000 people. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026 So far, three dogs have fallen ill after eating contaminated Oma’s Pride pet food. — Julia Hawkins, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contaminated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminated
  1. polluted
  2. poisoned
  3. diluted
  4. dilute
  5. tainted
Adjective
  • In Wilmington, officials are looking into why a couple of polluted tidal creeks in the area are struggling to recover despite restoration efforts.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But flood control cut off that supply, replacing it with polluted canals.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of polluted
Verb
  • Glutathione is processed in sterile compounding pharmacies, and there have been cases of people getting poisoned due to contamination at these facilities, Sack said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Patterson was accused of pretending to eat the same portion, and of feigning illness in an elaborate ruse to suggest she’d also been poisoned.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of poisoned
Adjective
  • Chlorine bleach is made with diluted sodium hypochlorite, Linley McConnell, laundry and cleaning expert at Gibson’s Cleaners, explains.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • For mild nausea, massage a few drops of diluted peppermint oil directly on the stomach.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of diluted
Adjective
  • Finally, the third recruits seaweed to gather minerals that are otherwise too dilute to chase.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
  • Clean and disinfect your pruning shears between working on each plant by dipping them into a dilute 10% solution of chlorine bleach water or rubbing alcohol.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of dilute
Adjective
  • One example is museums’ wall labels now mentioning tainted or dubious provenance.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The group turned its attention to Samoa in July 2018, when two young children died after being given a tainted MMR vaccine that had been improperly prepared.
    — Ali Swenson, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tainted

Browse Nearby Words

contaminate
contaminated
contaminates
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Cite this Entry

“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminated. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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