been tampered with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been tampered with" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, "The results of the audit had been tampered with."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The acoustics have not been tampered with.

The New York Times

Had his horse's feed been tampered with?

The New York Times

Everybody knows they've been tampered with.

The Guardian

"Those things haven't been tampered with by organized crime".

The New York Times

Glaciers have been tampered with, affecting India's water supply.

The Economist

"If it's not the same," he said, "one of them has been tampered with".

The New York Times

Neither of those samples tested positive or bore any evidence of having been tampered with.

The New York Times - Sports

We came across a fire extinguisher whose tamperproof thing had been tampered with.

The New Yorker

Countless ballots have now been reduced to ashes; many others have been tampered with.

The New York Times

He said the office's computers had been tampered with and confidential campaign files had been erased.

The New York Times

Initial suspicions that his car had been tampered with proved unfounded.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been tampered with", ensure the context clearly indicates what was altered and the potential consequences of that alteration.

Common error

Avoid using "been tampered with" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "The evidence has been tampered with", consider "Someone tampered with the evidence" to emphasize the actor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been tampered with" functions as part of the passive voice, indicating that something has undergone unauthorized or undesirable alteration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across a range of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been tampered with" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that something has been altered, often in an unauthorized or malicious manner. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly within news and media, science, and general discussions. While semantically similar phrases like "been interfered with" or "been manipulated" exist, "been tampered with" carries a specific connotation of illicit alteration. To use this phrase effectively, ensure the context clearly defines what was altered and the potential impact of that alteration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been interfered with

Replaces "tampered" with "interfered", focusing on the act of intervening or meddling.

been altered illicitly

Emphasizes the unauthorized and possibly illegal nature of the alteration.

been manipulated

Suggests skillful handling or control, often in a deceptive way.

been doctored

Implies falsification or alteration, especially of documents or information.

been corrupted

Focuses on the damage or degradation resulting from the alteration.

been defiled

Highlights the violation or desecration aspect of the alteration.

suffered unauthorized changes

More formal, emphasizing the lack of permission for the changes.

had its integrity compromised

Focuses on the loss of original quality or condition due to the alteration.

been compromised

Implies that something has been weakened or put at risk.

been fixed

Suggests the possible deception of a situation in a way that is advantageous to one of the sides.

FAQs

How can I use "been tampered with" in a sentence?

The phrase "been tampered with" indicates that something has been altered, usually in an unauthorized or undesirable way. Example: "The lock had clearly "been tampered with", suggesting a break-in."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "been tampered with"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "been interfered with", "been altered illicitly", or "been manipulated".

Which is correct, "been tampered with" or "was tampered with"?

"Been tampered with" is part of the present perfect passive construction (e.g., "It has been tampered with"). "Was tampered with" is part of the past passive construction (e.g., "It was tampered with"). The choice depends on the time frame and emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "been tampered with" and "been modified"?

"Been tampered with" usually implies unauthorized or malicious alteration, whereas "been modified" simply means that something has been changed, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.