What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
defile
Example
The hikers walked through the defile between the two mountains. [defile: noun]
Example
The factory's waste products defiled the nearby river. [defiled: past tense verb]
taint
Example
The rotten meat tainted the entire dish. [tainted: past tense verb]
Example
The politician's scandalous behavior tainted his reputation. [taint: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Taint is more commonly used than defile in everyday language. Taint is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while defile is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between defile and taint?
While defile is typically associated with a serious and formal tone, taint can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
