taint — OAT · Shobdo

taint

noun

free from the taint of corruption:

trace, touch, suggestion, hint, tinge, tincture;

smear, stain, blot, blemish, slur, stigma, tarnish, scar, black mark, spot, imperfection, flaw, fault, defect, blot on one's escutcheon;

discredit, dishonor, disgrace, shame.

verb

1 the world's last great wilderness is being tainted by pollution:

contaminate, pollute, adulterate, infect, blight, befoul, spoil, soil, ruin, destroy.

▷antonyms clean.

2 fraudulent firms need to be weeded out, lest they taint the reputation of all firms:

tarnish, sully, blacken, stain, besmirch, smear, blot, blemish, stigmatize, mar, corrupt, defile, soil, muddy, foul, dirty, damage, injure, harm, hurt, debase, infect, poison, vitiate, drag through the mud, blot one's copybook;

brand.

▷antonyms improve.