taint

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "taint" is a real word and is used in written English.
It is mainly used as a verb meaning "to contaminate" or "to stain with dishonor." For example, "The allegations of bribery have tainted the company's reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And while we sit not voting and whingeing on about the flaws, the weediness, the bolshiness, the taint of Blairism or the badly judged phrases or mannerisms of this or that MP, the rightwing will be obediently marching to the polling booths regardless and voting like billy-o all the way to victory.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The secrecy of the British honours system, with its tradition of idiocy and colonialism, snobbery and taint, now requires much of each batch of knighthoods, commanders, and so forth, to be received with Sir Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris (OBE, MBE, CBE) or Fred Goodwin-induced caution.

The Guardian - Opinion

The party's high command would prefer if the embattled Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, leads Fianna Fail into the expected disaster rather than a taint a new, fresh leader with the mark of defeat.

The Guardian

The Dreyfusards were afraid that this would taint their cause, but Zola refused to send them away.

The Guardian

And now I have to taint the book and my memory of disappearing with young Penelope through time and into the enchanting Elizabethan world of beaded kirtles, wild moorland and woods, peascods and passionate queens, with the knowledge that even as she was creating her masterpiece, the author was spitting bile and venom at those around her and recording it all for posterity in her diaries.

The Guardian - Books

Endorsement would taint the victory of "his" candidate; or, should the candidate lose, cause grave embarrassment to Mr Karzai.

The Economist

The region's own beleaguered reformists, who had feared that too strong an American flavour could taint their own efforts, will welcome this week's endorsement by other powers.

The Economist

Yet he does not bear Mr Li's presumably fatal taint of blood and failure.

The Economist

Fine words A mere 564 amendments Lame duck David El Paso's small step Pass, punt, PASPA Stuck in the Delta The speechwriter's revenge ReprintsThe sports leagues worry that betting will taint their product.

The Economist

So defending the brand from that taint is arguably aimed at boosting sales.Unless the ruling is reversed, companies fear they could face lawsuits for anything they say in good faith on matters relating to their business, from globalisation to the environment to race relations, if it later turns out to be untrue or misleading.

The Economist

Getting "blue helmets" to knock out one side in a civil war in the name of the rest of the world could taint the entire machinery of global peacekeeping.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "taint", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. It often implies a subtle or insidious form of corruption, not necessarily complete destruction.

Common error

Avoid using "taint" excessively in highly technical or scientific writing where more precise terms like "contaminate" or "degrade" might be more appropriate. While "taint" is understood, it can sometimes lack the specificity required in those fields.

Linguistic Context

The word "taint" primarily functions as a transitive verb, indicating the action of contaminating or spoiling something, often in a figurative sense such as damaging a reputation. Ludwig's examples show how it's used to describe the impact of negative influences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "taint" functions primarily as a transitive verb, denoting the action of contaminating or corrupting something, often in a non-literal sense. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Its frequency is considered very common, particularly in news and media, and formal business contexts. When using "taint", it's important to consider more precise alternatives like "contaminate" or "sully" depending on the nuance intended. Overusing it in technical contexts should be avoided in favour of more specific terminology. As demonstrated by the provided examples, "taint" is a versatile term for expressing disapproval of corruption or negative influence across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contaminate

Implies introducing something harmful or undesirable, like pollutants or germs.

corrupt

Focuses on moral decay or loss of integrity.

pollute

Specifically refers to making something impure or harmful, often environmentally.

defile

Suggests desecration or violation of something sacred or pure.

besmirch

Emphasizes damaging someone's reputation or honor.

sully

Similar to besmirch, but can also apply to physical staining or discoloration.

blemish

Indicates a flaw or imperfection that detracts from appearance or quality.

stain

Highlights a lasting mark or damage, often difficult to remove.

mar

Implies spoiling the perfection or completeness of something.

damage

A general term for causing harm or impairment.

FAQs

How can I use "taint" in a sentence?

You can use "taint" to describe the act of corrupting or staining something, such as "The scandal could "taint" the company's reputation" or "The food was "tainted" by bacteria".

What's a good alternative to using the word "taint"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "taint" include "contaminate", "corrupt", "pollute", or "sully".

Is it appropriate to use "taint" in formal writing?

Yes, "taint" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when discussing reputational damage or subtle corruption. However, consider whether a more precise term might be more suitable depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "taint" and "contaminate"?

"Taint" often suggests a moral or aesthetic blemish, whereas "contaminate" typically refers to physical or biological impurity. For example, a rumor can "taint" someone's reputation, while bacteria "contaminate" food.