Taint /teɪnt/ v. (通过添加有害物质而)污染(食品、血液等);玷污,败坏
meaning: to spoil something, especially food or blood, by adding a harmful substance, or to spoil people’s opinion of someone.
1) 对比:taint/paint/faint/saint
2) 联系:t—贪污腐败,玷污名声
e.g. His reputation was permanently tainted by the financial scandal. 那起财务丑闻让他一辈子声名狼藉。