tainted
/ˈteɪntɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈentɪd] /ˈteɪntɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈentɪd] /ˈtān-təd How to pronounce tainted (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tainted — adjective
- taintedpositive
- more taintedcomparative
- most taintedsuperlative
1. made dirty, infected, or unsafe because something harmful has got into it.
made dirty, infected, or unsafe because something harmful has got into it.
The well water was tainted by oil after the truck crash.
be tainted by [substance]
Noura threw away the tainted meat before the school picnic began.
Workers found tainted milk in three boxes at the corner shop.
The clinic recalled tainted blood bags after two patients got sick.
- contaminated
more technical and often used in scientific or official contexts
- polluted
usually used for air, water, or the wider environment
- spoiled
common for food that is no longer safe or good to eat
文法句型
tainted water
be tainted by [substance]
用法筆記
Often used for food, water, blood, or medicine when something harmful has entered it. This sense is about physical contamination, unlike sense 2, which is about damaged public trust.
常見錯誤
2. damaged in other people's eyes because it is linked with something dishonest, sh
damaged in other people's eyes because it is linked with something dishonest, shameful, or unfair.
The senator resigned after receiving money from a tainted company.
Years of cheating left the club with a tainted image.
tainted image = damaged public reputation
After the bribery case, Mira refused the tainted prize.
The school removed a tainted donor's name from the new library.
- discredited
focuses on loss of trust or respect
- compromised
suggests a person or institution can no longer be fully trusted
- suspect
more immediate and often used when people doubt honesty or fairness
文法句型
tainted reputation
be tainted by [scandal]
用法筆記
Usually describes a person, company, prize, donor, or reputation after a scandal or unfair connection becomes public. Unlike sense 1, the damage here is moral or social rather than physical.