Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not pure; mixed with something else: Describes a substance that is not in its pure, clean, or natural state because it has been combined with other, often inferior or unwanted, elements.
   • Morally unclean or sinful: Refers to thoughts, actions, or behaviors that are considered morally wrong, corrupt, or obscene according to religious, ethical, or social standards.
   • Ceremonially or ritually unclean: Used in religious contexts to describe something that is unfit for sacred use or consumption due to a perceived blemish or violation of a law.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a substance:

  • The water from the stream was impure and unsafe to drink.
  • The gold was impure, containing traces of copper and silver.

• Describing moral or ethical corruption:

  • He was accused of having impure motives for his charitable donations.
  • The novel was banned for its depiction of impure love.

• Describing ceremonial unfitness:

  • According to ancient law, certain animals were considered impure and forbidden as food.

Advanced Usage

• "Impure of heart": A phrase describing someone whose intentions or inner character are not honest, good, or sincere.

  • The prophet warned against leaders who were impure of heart.

• "Impure science": Sometimes used to describe scientific work that is not purely theoretical or fundamental but is applied or influenced by commercial or practical concerns. (Note: This is a less common, contextual usage).

  • His research was criticized by some as impure science because it was directly funded by a pharmaceutical company.

Variants and Related Words

• Impurity (noun): The state or quality of being impure; a substance that makes something else impure.
  • The impurity in the chemical caused the reaction to fail.
• Impurely (adverb): In an impure manner.
  • He acted impurely, seeking only his own gain.

Synonyms

• Contaminated: Made impure by contact or mixture with something unclean.
• Adulterated: Made poorer in quality by adding another substance.
• Unclean: Not clean; dirty or morally impure.
• Defiled: Spoiled or corrupted, especially in a sacred or moral sense.
• Tainted: Contaminated or corrupted by a harmful or undesirable quality.

Antonyms

• Pure: Not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or element; free from moral corruption.
• Clean: Free from dirt, marks, or stains; morally pure.
• Chaste: Abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse; pure in style and manner.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "To cast the first stone" (Implied Context): This biblical idiom is often related to discussions of purity and sin. While not containing the word "impure," it deals with the concept of moral impurity and judgment.
  • He who is without sin may cast the first stone.

Adjective

1. having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure according to dietary or ceremonial laws
   • unclean meat
   • and the swine...is unclean to you-Leviticus 11:3
2. (used of persons or behaviors) immoral or obscene
   • impure thoughts
3. combined with extraneous elements