Adulterate
Verb
Definition: Render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.
Synonyms: Contaminate, Dilute, Corrupt
Antonyms: Purify, Refine, Improve
Examples:
- The company was fined for adulterating their products with harmful chemicals.
- The chef refused to adulterate his famous recipe with inferior ingredients.
Mnemonics:
- "Adulterate" sounds like "adulter" which relates to cheating or deceiving, similar to how adding another substance cheats or deceives the quality of something.
Etymology:
Origin:
From Latin "adulteratus", past participle of "adulterare" (to make impure)
Historical Usage:The term originated in the late 16th century and has been used consistently since then.
Related Idioms:
Idiom:
None found.
Explanation:"Adulterate" has a different meaning unrelated to romantic relationships, despite the similarity in spelling.
Misconceptions:
Misconception:
Confusing "adulterate" with "adulter", which relates to infidelity or extramarital affairs.
Explanation:"Adulterate" has a different meaning unrelated to romantic relationships, despite the similarity in spelling.