as in to pollute
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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Recent Examples of contaminate
Laundry sanitizers are also recommended for washing work clothes that have been contaminated with pathogens of human, animal, or agricultural origin.
—
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
But fresh produce can also cause infections, for example, if they are washed during processing with water contaminated with salmonella.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 May 2025
However, you may be exposed to aluminum through other sources, such as certain workplace environments and contaminated water.95
FDA Warning
The FDA considers antiperspirants generally safe to use.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 20 May 2025
Ants are attracted to sugary nectar and can contaminate feeders or deter hummingbirds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contaminate
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
But fresh produce can also cause infections, for example, if they are washed during processing with water contaminated with salmonella.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 May 2025
However, you may be exposed to aluminum through other sources, such as certain workplace environments and contaminated water.95
FDA Warning
The FDA considers antiperspirants generally safe to use.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 20 May 2025
Ants are attracted to sugary nectar and can contaminate feeders or deter hummingbirds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminate
Verb
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In recent weeks, the flaws in the technology have crossed over into absurd territory: For example, by generating a summer reading list of fake books and legal documents polluted with serious errors and fabrications.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The Hazel Johnson ordinance grew out of a 2020 federal civil rights complaint filed by the Southeast Environmental Task Force and other groups challenging the city’s concentration of polluting industries in certain neighborhoods.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Verb
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As the film unfolds, Wilson finds out that Sterns, the movie's villain, has been the mastermind behind the entire plot and has been poisoning Ross with gamma rays via pills for years.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Intermediately, because a member of Ethan’s team, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart) has poisoned Donloe, which results in Donloe having some pretty intense gastrointestinal reactions.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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