1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vitiate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of vitiate are corrupt, debase, debauch, deprave, and pervert. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

When can corrupt be used instead of vitiate?

In some situations, the words corrupt and vitiate are roughly equivalent. However, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

When is it sensible to use debase instead of vitiate?

While the synonyms debase and vitiate are close in meaning, debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

When would debauch be a good substitute for vitiate?

The synonyms debauch and vitiate are sometimes interchangeable, but debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

When could deprave be used to replace vitiate?

The words deprave and vitiate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

When might pervert be a better fit than vitiate?

The words pervert and vitiate can be used in similar contexts, but pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vitiate Brazil’s and Colombia’s efforts to mediate between Maduro’s government and the opposition have floundered, and their desire to appear neutral in the name of dialogue has vitiated their ability to act on principle. Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2024 His lawyers contend the case was tainted by violations of Trump’s constitutional rights and that the verdict is vitiated by the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. Kristine Gill, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2024 His lawyers contend that the case was tainted by violations of Trump’s constitutional rights and that the verdict is vitiated by the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024 His lawyers contend the case was tainted by violations of Trump's constitutional rights and that the verdict is vitiated by the Supreme Court's immunity ruling. CBS News, 3 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for vitiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitiate
Verb
  • Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • White died nine days later on Nov. 21 The best friend of a British woman who died after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol while visiting Laos is speaking out.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • However, relatively decent growth fueled by Putin's record military spending has been marred by inflation and a worker shortage impacted by those fleeing the draft and troop losses in Ukraine as experts warn of longer terms problems for the economy.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • Lynch’s first winter as CEO was marred by long lift lines and employee shortages driven by COVID-19.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Israeli forces are expected to continue their campaign to eliminate remaining Hamas leaders and degrade the group's military capabilities.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah over the past year, killing much of its top leadership and severely degrading its power through mass airstrikes.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.
    Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.
    Monica Mark, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The woman also was seriously injured in the crash and was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
  • Several people were injured in a boat crash in the Hamptons on Sunday night, and the boat’s captain was arrested for boating under the influence, police said.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.
    Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • As the film unfolds, Wilson finds out that Sterns, the movie's villain, has been the mastermind behind the entire plot and has been poisoning Ross with gamma rays via pills for years.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 28 May 2025
  • Intermediately, because a member of Ethan’s team, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart) has poisoned Donloe, which results in Donloe having some pretty intense gastrointestinal reactions.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • The fire began on the third floor, severely damaging the entire level, while water damage affected the floors below.
    Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation.
    Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Vitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitiate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vitiate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!