contaminate
verb (used with object)
to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc..
contaminating
-
present participleof contaminate.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the 1920s, a modest mercury mine grew into a large open-pit operation, contaminating the watershed with the toxic metal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
It said it suspected the pipes had leaked sewage into the ground, contaminating groundwater which then seeped into the bay.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
The disaster unleashed toxic sludge into the Kafue River, contaminating land and leaving residents without clean water.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Microplastics and nanoplastics are widely known for contaminating oceans, rivers, and farmland.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 23, 2026
HeLa cells are still contaminating other cultures and causing an estimated several million dollars in damage each year.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
