What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Contaminate vs Adulterate - What's the difference?

contaminate | adulterate |

As verbs the difference between contaminate and adulterate

is that contaminate is to introduce impurities or foreign matter to while adulterate is to corrupt.

As an adjective adulterate is

tending to commit adultery.

contaminate

English

Verb

(contaminat)
  • To introduce impurities or foreign matter to.
    • Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.
    This water is contaminated . It isn't safe to drink.
  • To soil or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to pollute.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Shall we now / Contaminate our figures with base bribes?
  • * Goldsmith
    • I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated .
  • * '>citation

    • Related terms

    * contaminable * contamination * contaminative

    External links

    * * * ----

    adulterate

    English

    (wikipedia adulterate)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Tending to commit adultery.
  • * , I.v.
    • Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,
    With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-
    O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power
    So to seduce!- won to his shameful lust
    The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen.
  • Corrupted; impure; adulterated.

    • Verb

    (adulterat)
  • To corrupt.
  • To spoil by adding impurities.
    • to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coins, etc.
  • * Spectator
    • The present war has adulterated our tongue with strange words.
  • To commit adultery.
  • To defile by adultery.
    • (Milton)

    Synonyms

    * debase

    Derived terms

    * adulterant * adulteration

    References

    * ----