impure
adjective
im·pure (ˌ)im-ˈpyu̇r 
: not pure: such as
a
: containing something unclean : foul
impure water
b
: mixed or impregnated with an extraneous and usually unwanted substance
an impure chemical
c
: lewd, unchaste
d
: ritually unclean
impurely adverb
impureness noun
Synonyms
- adulterate
- adulterated
- alloyed
- contaminated
- dilute
- diluted
- polluted
- tainted
- thinned
- weakened
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
be careful, because impure motor oil can damage your car's engine Victorian notions of what qualified as impure art now strike us as laughable.
Recent Examples on the Web Yet all the choices in rhyme-making take place against the largely unheeded current of rhyme, pure and impure, that flows unimpeded from popular song and greeting-card sentiments and countless other forms. 
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 Essentially, a face scrub gets beneath the surface, and lifts away dead and impure skin cells, allowing newer, younger skin cells to surface. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 Mar. 2022 While the secretary of agriculture was charged with supporting American food producers, the head of the agency’s Bureau of Chemistry tracked tainted foods and pushed aggressively for poisonous and impure products to be removed from the market. Bernice Yeung, ProPublica, 23 Dec. 2021 In the generals’ worldview, women are often considered weak and impure. New York Times, 4 Mar. 2021 Across the country, women in many homes are not allowed to cook or touch anyone during their period as they are considered impure and dirty. Reshmi Chakraborty, CNN, 27 May 2020 Unbeknownst to the cleaner, ash combined with the animal grease to create a simple, impure soap. Cody Cassidy, Time, 5 May 2020 All of this happens in a space of just 10 nanometers, and the extreme tininess and precision required means that even slightly, microscopically impure silicon materials could throw off the whole process. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 11 Feb. 2020 Judaism considers pigs impure and no one disputes that the sculpture is deliberately offensive. Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2020 See More
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 Essentially, a face scrub gets beneath the surface, and lifts away dead and impure skin cells, allowing newer, younger skin cells to surface. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 Mar. 2022 While the secretary of agriculture was charged with supporting American food producers, the head of the agency’s Bureau of Chemistry tracked tainted foods and pushed aggressively for poisonous and impure products to be removed from the market. Bernice Yeung, ProPublica, 23 Dec. 2021 In the generals’ worldview, women are often considered weak and impure. New York Times, 4 Mar. 2021 Across the country, women in many homes are not allowed to cook or touch anyone during their period as they are considered impure and dirty. Reshmi Chakraborty, CNN, 27 May 2020 Unbeknownst to the cleaner, ash combined with the animal grease to create a simple, impure soap. Cody Cassidy, Time, 5 May 2020 All of this happens in a space of just 10 nanometers, and the extreme tininess and precision required means that even slightly, microscopically impure silicon materials could throw off the whole process. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 11 Feb. 2020 Judaism considers pigs impure and no one disputes that the sculpture is deliberately offensive. Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin impurus, from in- + purus pure
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
impure
adjective
im·pure im-ˈpyu̇r
1
: not pure : unclean, dirty
impure water
2
: mixed with something else that is usually not as good
impure gold
Medical Definition
impure
adjective
im·pure (ˈ)im-ˈpyu̇(ə)r
: not pure: as
a
: containing something unclean
impure water
b
: mixed or impregnated with an extraneous and usually unwanted substance : adulterated
an impure chemical
impure
adjective
1
as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances be careful, because impure motor oil can damage your car's engine Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- polluted
- contaminated
- diluted
- dilute
- adulterated
- tainted
- thinned
- alloyed
- mixed
- adulterate
- blended
- defiled
- soiled
- weakened
- debased
- dirtied
- corrupted
- combined
- unfiltered
- sullied
- unrefined
- befouled
- spoiled
- begrimed
- commingled
- maculate
- unclarified
- fouled
- intermixed
- compounded
- intermingled
- besmirched
- mingled
- incorporated
- maculated
- merged
- bemired
- coalesced
- cheapened
- doctored
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pure
- uncontaminated
- unmixed
- unpolluted
- untainted
- purified
- unadulterated
- undiluted
- unalloyed
- fine
- uncut
- refined
- plain
- filtered
- neat
- concentrated
- straight
- ultrapure
- strong
- sterile
- uncombined
- pasteurized
- clean
- ultrarefined
- stainless
- unsullied
- clarified
- spotless
- sterilized
- immaculate
- unsoiled
2
as in vulgar
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society Victorian notions of what qualified as impure art now strike us as laughable Synonyms & Similar Words
- vulgar
- obscene
- pornographic
- filthy
- dirty
- foul
- nasty
- crude
- profane
- gross
- undesirable
- unacceptable
- indecent
- suggestive
- lewd
- lascivious
- unpleasant
- disgusting
- coarse
- naughty
- unwanted
- offensive
- blue
- raunchy
- obnoxious
- gutter
- smutty
- bawdy
- abusive
- trashy
- ribald
- wanton
- unprintable
- wicked
- depraved
- perverted
- stag
- objectionable
- porny
- X-rated
- repulsive
- loathsome
- repugnant
- indelicate
- earthy
- immodest
- indecorous
- salacious
- soft
- abhorrent
- infamous
- unbecoming
- broad
- unwelcome
- risqué
- revolting
- perverse
- salty
- scatological
- locker-room
- censurable
- low
- kinky
- distasteful
- off
- reprehensible
- off-colored
- blameworthy
- exceptionable
- gamy
- racy
- louche
- debasing
- barnyard
- repellent
- off-color
- blamable
- coarse-grained
- scurrilous
- atrocious
- gamey
- repellant
- soft-core
- hard-core
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wholesome
- clean
- puritanical
- decent
- proper
- correct
- priggish
- prudish
- staid
- acceptable
- pure
- innocuous
- straitlaced
- desirable
- prim
- polite
- seemly
- respectable
- decorous
- appropriate
- genteel
- nice
- pleasant
- nonobscene
- suitable
- inoffensive
- agreeable
- pleasing
- G-rated
- straightlaced
- welcome
- becoming
- meet
- perfect
- spotless
- virginal
- immaculate
- fit
- Victorian
- endorsed
- approved
- sanctioned
- indorsed