adulterate
/əˈdʌl.tər.eɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To make something impure by adding a cheaper or harmful substance. It is often used for food, drink, medicine, or materials.
- They adulterated the milk with water.
- The company was accused of adulterating the oil.
- 2.
To spoil the quality or truth of something by mixing in something unwanted. This use is more formal and can be literal or figurative.
- The report was adulterated with false data.
- Bad editing adulterated her clear argument.
Adinary Nuance
Adulterate is stronger and more negative than mix or blend. It usually suggests cheating, damage, or impurity, especially with food, medicines, or facts. Writers choose it when they want to show that something has been made worse on purpose. It is more formal than everyday words like water down.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- pha tạp
- Spanish
- adulterar
- Chinese
- 掺假
- Japanese
- 不純にする
- Korean
- 불순하게 하다
Etymology
Adulterate comes from Latin adulterare, meaning “to corrupt” or “to make false.” It entered English in the late 15th century.
Common phrases
adulterated foodadulterated milkadulterated with wateradulterate the data
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is adulterate a formal word?
- Yes. It is more formal than everyday words like "mix" or "water down".
- What is the difference between adulterate and contaminate?
- Adulterate often means adding something harmful or cheaper on purpose. Contaminate is broader and can mean making something dirty or unsafe.
- Can adulterate be used for data or writing?
- Yes. It can mean spoiling something by adding false or bad information.
- Is adulterate common in daily speech?
- No. It is more common in writing, news reports, and academic English.