polluting
adjective
pol·lut·ing
pə-ˈlü-tiŋ 
: causing pollution
… a region that has been dependent upon basic industries such as coal mining and metal work—relatively polluting industries.—
Patricia L. Layman
Patricia L. LaymanThe recycling process itself can be polluting. Recyclers find it difficult to separate recyclable from nonrecyclable plastics, which causes the end product to be useless.—Sally Hayhow Cullen
Sally Hayhow CullenExamples of polluting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fuel analysts have attributed the recent run-up mostly to the annual transition from winter-blend gasoline to California’s summer blend that is less polluting but more expensive, which means refineries reduce production to make the switch.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Ultimately, unsold inventory remains one of the most polluting elements of the fashion industry, with 30% of clothes ending up in landfills, burned and releasing methane in the atmosphere.
—Clara Ludmir, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Taking on the challenge of establishing a less polluting economy will allow the U.S. to take a larger leadership role as these technologies develop and scale.
—Ed Farrington, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
To this day, energy generated from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, is still primarily used due to its affordability and reliability, despite being extremely polluting.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024
Among the world’s most polluting industries, fashion accounts for between 3% and 5% of global carbon emissions, according to consultancy McKinsey’s State of Fashion report.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
Combined, the two rules would eliminate the equivalent of carbon dioxide emissions generated over two years by all sectors of the economy in the United States, the second-biggest polluting country on the planet after China.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2023
Read Article > Rivian released its first-ever environmental and social impact report, in which the company commits to building a new generation of electric vehicles that are even less polluting than its current generation.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024
For decades, the country’s soaring power demand was fulfilled largely by coal, the most polluting fossil fuel.
—Nadja Popovich, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Ultimately, unsold inventory remains one of the most polluting elements of the fashion industry, with 30% of clothes ending up in landfills, burned and releasing methane in the atmosphere.
—Clara Ludmir, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Taking on the challenge of establishing a less polluting economy will allow the U.S. to take a larger leadership role as these technologies develop and scale.
—Ed Farrington, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
To this day, energy generated from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, is still primarily used due to its affordability and reliability, despite being extremely polluting.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024
Among the world’s most polluting industries, fashion accounts for between 3% and 5% of global carbon emissions, according to consultancy McKinsey’s State of Fashion report.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
Combined, the two rules would eliminate the equivalent of carbon dioxide emissions generated over two years by all sectors of the economy in the United States, the second-biggest polluting country on the planet after China.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2023
Read Article > Rivian released its first-ever environmental and social impact report, in which the company commits to building a new generation of electric vehicles that are even less polluting than its current generation.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024
For decades, the country’s soaring power demand was fulfilled largely by coal, the most polluting fossil fuel.
—Nadja Popovich, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polluting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polluting. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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