adulterate
Group 2Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To make something poorer in quality by adding another substance GRE
Example in Context
Investigators discovered that the supplier had adulterated the olive oil with cheaper vegetable oils to increase profit margins.
Synonyms
contaminatetaintdilute
Etymology
To change something by adding inferior substances.
- ad- (Latin) — to
- ulterare (Latin) — to change
Memory Aid
👨🦳Sounds like “adult late”
When adults arrive LATE with inferior snacks, they ADULTERATE the party!
Visual Association
💩A pristine cake ruined by someone adding a pile of poop on it, making it unappetizing.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “adulterate” mean on the GRE?
adulterate (verb) means “To make something poorer in quality by adding another substance”. Investigators discovered that the supplier had adulterated the olive oil with cheaper vegetable oils to increase profit margins.
How to remember “adulterate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “adulterate” sounds like “adult late”. When adults arrive LATE with inferior snacks, they ADULTERATE the party!
What are synonyms for “adulterate”?
Common synonyms: contaminate, taint, dilute.