unadulterated

American  

[uhn-uh-duhl-tuh-rey-tid] / ˌʌn əˈdʌl təˌreɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. not diluted or made impure by adulterating; pure.

   unadulterated maple syrup.

2. utter; absolute.

   unadulterated nonsense.

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unadulterated British  

/ ˌʌnəˈdʌltəreɪtɪd /

adjective

1. not debased or made impure

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Other Word Forms

• unadulteratedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of unadulterated

First recorded in 1710–20; un- ¹ + adulterate + -ed ²

Explanation

Something that's pure, not mixed with other ingredients, is unadulterated. If you stand in your yard every time it rains singing "Singin' in the Rain" with unadulterated enthusiasm, your neighbors will eventually call the police. Food or drink that is pure is also said to be unadulterated. Some people like chocolate milk, but you might prefer the unadulterated variety. The adjective unadulterated also means "without qualifications," and it can be used in a negative way to mean "complete and utter." You'd probably feel like an unadulterated idiot if you shocked yourself by sticking a knife in the toaster after being advised not to.

Example Sentences

Conservative commentator Meghan McCain blasted Owens’ campaign as “pure, unadulterated evil.”

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

For Iranian diaspora communities outside the country and which are in large part anti-government, Khamenei’s death sparked unadulterated happiness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

College football’s greatest dynasties are dead—and pure, unadulterated chaos has replaced them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

The group said it believed the images were neither art or a political statement but "unadulterated hatred" and said its legal team was examining the footage to consider further steps.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

But here I was now, less than fifty feet from them, telling myself that the sudden taste in my mouth wasn’t unadulterated, naked fear.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• purified
• unsullied