tainted
adj. C1 Advanced US //ˈteɪntɪd// UK //tˈeɪntɪd// taint·ed
adj. spoiled, damaged, or no longer pure. You use this to describe something that has been ruined by a bad quality or a dishonest action.
adj. damaged by an admixture of something undesirable; corrupted or spoiled in quality. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or as a participial adjective modifying a noun.
The scandal left his reputation tainted.
The investigation revealed that the evidence was tainted by poor handling in the lab.
The candidate's victory was tainted by allegations of voter suppression, leading to widespread calls for a recount and a formal inquiry into the election process.
From taint + -ed.
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'remain'. Frequently pairs with the preposition 'by' or 'with'.