Adulterate
verb /əˈdʌl.tər.eɪt/ — To make impure by adding inferior substances.
Definition
To render something poorer in quality by adding inferior or unsuitable ingredients or elements; to corrupt or debase what was pure.
Beyond the definition
Adulterate is the word for dilution with intent. The adulterated wine, the adulterated data, the adulterated argument. There's an accusation in the word — something was made less than it was. It implies that someone knew what they were doing when they added what didn't belong.
Origin & history
From Latin adulterare ('to corrupt, debase'), from ad- ('to') + alter ('other'). To introduce something other into something — the 'other' being what doesn't belong.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The investigation found that the product had been adulterated with cheaper substitutes.
To adulterate the historical record with convenient fictions is a disservice to everyone.
How to use it
This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.
Choose “Adulterate” when the meaning fits your context: To render something poorer in quality by adding inferior or unsuitable ingredients or elements; to corrupt or debase what was pure.
Synonyms
contaminate, corrupt, debase, dilute, taint
Antonyms
purify, refine, improve, enrich
Related words
- corrupt
- contaminate
- debase
- taint
Adulterate vs contaminate
Contaminate means to make something impure or harmful by introducing a damaging substance — the emphasis is on harm or pollution. Adulterate is more specific: it means to make something inferior by mixing in cheaper or unsuitable elements, often for commercial gain. You contaminate water with toxins; you adulterate wine with water. Contamination suggests danger; adulteration suggests fraud. Both introduce what doesn't belong, but for different reasons.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Contaminating values with excessive packaging
A person looks conflicted between a reusable bag and a pile of plastic-wrapped purchases, sitting beside a healthy, vibrant plant.
The presence of unnecessary plastic waste in a life otherwise focused on nature corrupts the purity of their original intent. This visual contrast demonstrates how an inferior element can adulterate a standard of care, debasing the intended goal.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Adulterate" mean?
Adulterate is verb meaning: To make impure by adding inferior substances.. To render something poorer in quality by adding inferior or unsuitable ingredients or elements; to corrupt or debase what was pure.
Where does the word "Adulterate" come from?
From Latin adulterare ('to corrupt, debase'), from ad- ('to') + alter ('other'). To introduce something other into something — the 'other' being what doesn't belong.