adulterate 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce adulterate (audio)
Definition of adulteratenext
1
as in dilute
containing foreign or lower-grade substances the pharmacist was convicted of selling adulterate drugs in order to maximize profits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adulterous
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse caught red-handed in what he claimed was his first adulterate encounter

Synonyms & Similar Words

adulterate

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈdəl-tə-ˌrāt How to pronounce adulterate (audio)
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances the company was fined for adulterating its "all beef" frankfurters with cereal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 adulterate
Verb
Naloxone, the active drug in Narcan, is only effective on opioids and not on stimulants like cocaine, which would suggest the substance Dick used was adulterated with an opiate such as fentanyl. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026 Now, illicit chemists are adulterating batches of street drugs with a fast-changing and often baffling mix of compounds, ranging from Novocaine to a stabilizer used in plastics manufacturing called BTPMS. — Brian Mann, NPR, 14 Apr. 2026 Multiple case reports have documented allergic reactions and anaphylaxis attributable to contaminated or adulterated injectable peptides. — Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026 Fruits, leafy greens and other produce can become adulterated with listeria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of said growing area to livestock, USA TODAY previously reported. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adulterate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterate
  1. dilute
  2. adulterous
  3. pollute
  4. polluted
  5. extramarital
  6. adulterated
  7. extracurricular
  8. diluted
Adjective
  • But dwarf galaxies are smaller and colder, with more dilute and slower-moving matter.
    — Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
  • Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
Definition of dilute
Adjective
  • Fiction is inherently adulterous.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
  • But the gamesmanship, foreshadowing the adulterous antics of Harold Pinter’s plays, escalates perilously.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of adulterous
Verb
  • We’re paralyzed by whether a carbon-belching fossil fuel company’s right to pollute should outweigh the rest of the country’s right to clean air and a stable climate.
    — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
  • Clara Benson, who is one of the founders of the No Big Bend Wall coalition, says bright lights in the area designed to illuminate the border could pollute the skies in an area renowned for having some of the best views of the stars.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of pollute
Adjective
  • If one neighborhood is highly polluted but nearby communities aren’t, county-level averages would show an overall low level of pollution – even though the more detailed information would reveal a major problem to be addressed in one particular area.
    — Mark Axelrod, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • Her inner light reminds him of the stars he’s seen with his own eyes, above the polluted atmosphere of Earth.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026
Definition of polluted
Adjective
  • Black employed Epstein has a wealth management adviser, but also allegedly confided in him about personal matters, including extramarital affairs that ended in nondisclosure agreements.
    — Graham Kates, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Cue a whole host of dodgy deals and shady string-pulling, not to mention an extramarital affair, as the entirely fictional — but no doubt true to life — character abandons any sense of morality.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of extramarital
Adjective
  • Navarro, who pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy in August, was sentenced Friday in Manhattan by federal Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil for being part of a conspiracy to distribute and administer adulterated and misbranded drugs for racehorses.
    — Stephen Edelson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2021
Definition of adulterated
Adjective
  • Without the tax, OCPS would lose about $256 million in funding that pays for about 2,000 teachers and several dozen extracurricular programs like sports and the arts.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry.
    — Sara Donchey, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of extracurricular
Adjective
  • By contrast, brewing coffee takes several minutes, resulting in a lighter, more diluted drink.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • To help remove sugar or milk, spray the area with diluted dishwashing soap solution.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026
Definition of diluted

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Adulterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adulterate

Nglish: Translation of adulterate for Spanish Speakers

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