paraquat
noun
para·quat
ˈper-ə-ˌkwät 
ˈpa-rə-
: a highly toxic contact herbicide containing a salt of a cation [C12H14N2]2+
Examples of paraquat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The federal government needs to be a partner and can start by banning paraquat as has been done in many other countries.
—
Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2023
In two of the species, resistance to oxidative stress went up when the queen was removed, almost doubling the workers’ chance of surviving treatment with paraquat.
—Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2022
Kalmuss-Katz said paraquat has also been found to cause kidney and respiratory problems.
—Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Sep. 2021
But sometimes the pigweed can appear to resurrect itself even after an application of paraquat: Nicolet recalled a recent instance in which the weeds appeared to die, only to start growing again a few days later.
—New York Times, 11 Aug. 2021
The Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump proposed last year to renew U.S. registration of paraquat for 15 years, the renewal period set by law while banning nearly all aerial spraying of the herbicide.
—Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Sep. 2021
This field had been sprayed between plantings with an herbicide containing paraquat.
—New York Times, 11 Aug. 2021
An investigation by Public Eye, a Swiss NGO, and Unearthed, the journalism branch of Greenpeace, quotes the doctor Shankar Ramchandani, who went on a 2019 hunger strike in Odisha, India to protest paraquat sales.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 4 Apr. 2021
Similarly, in South Korea, a ban on the herbicide paraquat was followed by a 50% decrease in suicide deaths from pesticide poisoning from 2011-2013.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Sep. 2019
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Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2023
In two of the species, resistance to oxidative stress went up when the queen was removed, almost doubling the workers’ chance of surviving treatment with paraquat.
—Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2022
Kalmuss-Katz said paraquat has also been found to cause kidney and respiratory problems.
—Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Sep. 2021
But sometimes the pigweed can appear to resurrect itself even after an application of paraquat: Nicolet recalled a recent instance in which the weeds appeared to die, only to start growing again a few days later.
—New York Times, 11 Aug. 2021
The Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump proposed last year to renew U.S. registration of paraquat for 15 years, the renewal period set by law while banning nearly all aerial spraying of the herbicide.
—Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Sep. 2021
This field had been sprayed between plantings with an herbicide containing paraquat.
—New York Times, 11 Aug. 2021
An investigation by Public Eye, a Swiss NGO, and Unearthed, the journalism branch of Greenpeace, quotes the doctor Shankar Ramchandani, who went on a 2019 hunger strike in Odisha, India to protest paraquat sales.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 4 Apr. 2021
Similarly, in South Korea, a ban on the herbicide paraquat was followed by a 50% decrease in suicide deaths from pesticide poisoning from 2011-2013.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Sep. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paraquat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
para- + quaternary
First Known Use
circa 1961, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near paraquat
Cite this Entry
“Paraquat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraquat. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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Medical Definition
paraquat
noun
para·quat
ˈpar-ə-ˌkwät
: an herbicide containing a salt of a cation [C12H14N2]2+ that is used especially as a weed killer and that is extremely toxic to the liver, kidneys, and lungs if ingested
More from Merriam-Webster on paraquat
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paraquat
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