Vi·ti·ate v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vitiated p. pr. & vb. n. Vitiating.] [Written also viciate.]
1. To make vicious, faulty, or imperfect; to render defective; to injure the substance or qualities of; to impair; to contaminate; to spoil; as, exaggeration vitiates a style of writing; sewer gas vitiates the air.
A will vitiated and growth out of love with the truth disposes the understanding to error and delusion. --South.
Without care it may be used to vitiate our minds. --Burke.
This undistinguishing complaisance will vitiate the taste of readers. --Garth.
2. To cause to fail of effect, either wholly or in part; to make void; to destroy, as the validity or binding force of an instrument or transaction; to annul; as, any undue influence exerted on a jury vitiates their verdict; fraud vitiates a contract.
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vitiated
adj 1: impaired by diminution [syn: diminished, lessened, weakened]
2: ruined in character or quality [syn: corrupted, debased]