contaminate crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! Below you'll find comprehensive answers for the crossword clue "contaminate crossword clue," categorized by their letter count, along with detailed explanations to help you understand the solution and improve your crossword skills.
Solutions for "contaminate crossword clue" by Letter Count
3 Letters
MAR: To damage or disfigure, often making something less perfect.
4 Letters
SOIL: To make dirty, often with solid particles or grime.
5 Letters
SPOIL: To damage or ruin, rendering something unfit for use or enjoyment.
TAINT: To corrupt or make impure, often implying a moral or reputational blemish.
6 Letters
DEFILE: To make foul, dirty, or unclean, especially in a spiritual or moral sense.
INFECT: To contaminate with disease-causing microorganisms.
7 Letters
POLLUTE: To introduce harmful substances into the environment, making it impure or unsafe.
More About "contaminate crossword clue"
The word "contaminate" refers to the act of making something impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, harmful, or undesirable. In crossword puzzles, clues for "contaminate" often test your vocabulary related to spoilage, pollution, infection, or defilement. These clues can range from direct synonyms to more figurative interpretations, requiring a broad understanding of how impurities can affect objects, environments, or even abstract concepts like reputations.
Understanding the nuances between words like "pollute," "taint," and "infect" is crucial for selecting the correct answer based on the context implied by the clue. For example, a clue might hint at environmental damage, leading to "POLLUTE," while another might suggest a moral failing, pointing to "TAINT" or "DEFILE." Recognizing these subtle differences is key to mastering such clues.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider the Nuance: "Contaminate" has many synonyms, but each carries a slightly different nuance. Think about whether the clue implies physical impurity (e.g., "soil," "pollute"), moral corruption (e.g., "taint," "defile"), or biological spread (e.g., "infect").
- Check Letter Count: Always use the number of letters given in the crossword grid to narrow down your options. If you have several potential answers, the length will often eliminate many possibilities.
- Look for Wordplay: Crossword clues can be tricky. Sometimes "contaminate" might be clued metaphorically, such as "Sully a reputation" or "Spoil the mood." Be prepared for clues that don't directly use synonyms but hint at the concept.
- Context is Key: If other words in the puzzle grid or the theme of the puzzle suggest a specific area (e.g., chemistry, health, environment), it can help you choose the most fitting synonym for "contaminate."
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between "contaminate" and "pollute" in crosswords?
While often interchangeable, "pollute" typically refers to making air, water, or land impure with waste, whereas "contaminate" is a broader term for introducing any undesirable substance or influence that makes something impure or harmful, which could include disease, information, or even moral standing. Clues usually guide you to the precise meaning.
How do I identify synonyms for "contaminate" in a cryptic crossword?
Cryptic crosswords often hide synonyms within wordplay, anagrams, or charades. Look for indicator words that suggest a synonym is needed, then apply the wordplay technique. For "contaminate," you might see clues like "Ruin soup (5)" for SPOIL, where "ruin" is the synonym and "soup" provides the letters for an anagram, or "Make dirty, initially (4)" for SOIL if the first letters of "Slippery Old Icy Log" spell it out.
Can "contaminate" refer to non-physical things in a crossword?
Absolutely! "Contaminate" can be used metaphorically. For instance, a reputation can be "tainted" or "sullied," or a discussion can be "spoiled" by negativity. Crossword setters love to play on these broader meanings, so consider both literal and figurative interpretations.