taint

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] [oftenpassive] ~ sth (with sth) (formal) to damage or spoil the quality of sth or the opinion that people have of sb/sth: The administration was tainted with scandal. tainted adjective: tainted drinking water noun [usuallysing.] the effect of sth bad or unpleasant that spoils the quality of sb/sth: to be free from the taint of corruption