Which verb means 'to make impure'?

• A. Aggrandize
• B. Amalgamate
• C. Ameliorate
• D. Adulterate

Answer: (D)

Adulterate captures the idea of making something impure by introducing an inferior or unwanted substance. It’s the precise term for corrupting purity, often used with foods, medicines, or samples that have been tampered with to lower quality or deceive.

The other verbs point to different actions: aggrandize means to increase power or reputation, not impurity; amalgamate means to merge into a single whole; ameliorate means to improve or make better. For example, a spice could be adulterated with fillers, which is about impurity added to the product.