Word
unadulterated
Phoneticsunadul·ter·at·ed
US/ˌənəˈdəɫtɝˌeɪtɪd/
UK/ʌnɐdˈʌltəɹˌeɪtɪd/
Definition
adj. completely pure, with nothing added or mixed in. You use it for strong feelings too, like pure joy with nothing to spoil it.
adj. completely pure and not mixed with foreign substances or weakened by other elements. Extended figuratively to emotions, pleasures, or states experienced in undiluted, intense form.
Examples
“The baby shows unadulterated joy when she laughs.”
“After weeks of stress, they enjoyed an evening of unadulterated fun with old friends and good food.”
“The memoir captures the unadulterated wonder of childhood summers spent roaming the hills, before adult worries reshaped memory into something more cautious.”
Examples
simple
“The baby shows unadulterated joy when she laughs.”
contextual
“After weeks of stress, they enjoyed an evening of unadulterated fun with old friends and good food.”
complex
“The memoir captures the unadulterated wonder of childhood summers spent roaming the hills, before adult worries reshaped memory into something more cautious.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unadulterated” in context.
Verb
01. keep unadulterated
“They fought to keep the festival unadulterated by sponsors.”
verb + adj
02. remain unadulterated
“This remote valley remains unadulterated by mass tourism.”
verb + adj
03. stay unadulterated
“The spring water stays unadulterated from source to village.”
verb + adj
04. unadulterated by cynicism
“His optimism seems refreshingly unadulterated by cynicism.”
adj + prep + noun
05. unadulterated by greed
“Her kindness was unadulterated by greed or self-interest.”
adj + prep + noun
Adjective
06. unadulterated admiration
“The students listened with unadulterated admiration.”
adj + noun
07. unadulterated bliss
“A week with no phone or email was unadulterated bliss.”
adj + noun
08. a look of unadulterated terror
“The child had a look of unadulterated terror during the storm.”
09. moment of unadulterated bliss
“As the sun set over the ocean, it was a moment of unadulterated bliss.”
10. pure unadulterated joy
“Holding her newborn son gave her a feeling of pure unadulterated joy.”
11. sheer unadulterated nonsense
“The claim that the moon landing was faked is sheer unadulterated nonsense.”
12. unadulterated by commercial gain
“He wanted his art to remain unadulterated by commercial gain.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also occurs predicatively after linking verbs.
Etymology
From un- + adulterated.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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