impure

/ɪmˈpjʊə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪmpjˈʊr] /ɪmˈpjʊr/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɪmpjˈʊr] /(ˌ)im-ˈpyu̇r How to pronounce impure (audio)/ (ame, mw)

impure — adjective

  • impurepositive
  • more impurecomparative
  • most impuresuperlative

1. not fully clean or made of one material because another substance has been mixed

1.形容詞B2
釋義

not fully clean or made of one material because another substance has been mixed in.

例句

The chemist rejected the impure salt before starting the school experiment.

impure + substance/material

Oil from the old pipe left the drinking water impure for days.

同義詞
  • contaminated

    more strongly suggests harmful material and is common in health or science contexts

  • adulterated

    more formal and often suggests dishonest mixing with a cheaper substance

  • tainted

    often suggests damage or danger after unwanted material gets in

反義詞
  • pure

    made of one substance or free from contamination

  • clean

    free from dirt or harmful matter

文法句型

impure gold

be impure because of [substance]

用法筆記

Usually describes materials, food, water, air, or chemicals after another substance gets into them. This sense is about physical mixture or contamination, not moral or religious judgment.

常見錯誤

❌The sugar is dirty with salt.
✅The sugar is impure because salt got mixed into it.
💡'impure' is used when another substance changes the material itself, not when the surface is simply dirty.

2. showing sexual desire or actions that people judge as shameful or morally wrong.

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing sexual desire or actions that people judge as shameful or morally wrong.

例句

The head teacher removed the impure drawings from the classroom wall.

Kemi warned her son away from websites full of impure videos.

同義詞
  • obscene

    stronger and often used for material that shocks or offends

  • indecent

    often used for behavior or images judged improper in public

  • lewd

    strongly disapproving and often focused on openly sexual behavior

反義詞
  • chaste

    sexually restrained according to moral or religious ideals

  • decent

    socially and morally acceptable

文法句型

impure thoughts

impure drawings

用法筆記

This sense appears mostly in religious, moral, or old-fashioned discussion rather than everyday chat. It usually describes thoughts, pictures, songs, or behavior, not ordinary physical dirt.

常見錯誤

❌The magazine was impure because the pages were dusty.
✅The magazine was obscene because of the sexual pictures.
💡this sense is about sexual immorality, not physical dirt.

3. treated as unfit for sacred food, worship, or ritual use under a religious law.

3.形容詞C2
釋義

treated as unfit for sacred food, worship, or ritual use under a religious law.

例句

After touching the dead goat, Hari was considered impure until sunset.

be considered impure until [time]

The priest told the crowd that blood on the bowl made it impure.

同義詞
  • unclean

    the closest general word for forbidden or defiled ritual status

  • defiled

    more formal and often stresses loss of sacred status after contact

反義詞
  • clean

    fit for ritual use under the law

  • holy

    set apart for sacred use rather than excluded from it

文法句型

be impure under [law]

be considered impure until [time]

用法筆記

Used in religious or historical settings where laws divide what may enter a shrine, meal, or ceremony from what may not. Unlike sense 2, the issue here is ritual status, not sexual behavior.

常見錯誤

❌The cup is impure because it still has soap on it.
✅Under the rule, the cup is impure because blood touched it.
💡this sense belongs to religious law, not ordinary cleaning.