as in pollutants
something that is or that makes impure
a filter to remove contaminants from the drinking water
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Recent Examples of contaminants
Although lead is one of the most common and dangerous contaminants left behind after fires, federal and state disaster officials have traditionally tested soil for 17 toxic metals, including cancer-causing arsenic and toxic mercury.
—
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Free Press reporting reveals arsenic and lead are among the contaminants that have been found across dozens of sites tested so far, and that questions remain as to whether Detroit officials have orderedadequate testing and sufficiently communicated the risk to residents.
—Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The top lid screws securely over the straw to keep contaminants out, and the filter is a combination microfilter with a carbon insert that attaches to the straw portion of the lid.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Washing and drying the exterior will keep the paint clean and remove contaminants that could cause rust.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Standard soil testing labs can screen for lead (and other heavy metals, at an additional cost), but testing for other contaminants is comparatively more expensive.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Typical wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat biological contaminants, such as feces, not chemical contaminants.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
The warmth also helps any contaminants drain out, rather than settling at the bottom of cold oil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
The contaminants, toxicity and people responsible were often unknown.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Free Press reporting reveals arsenic and lead are among the contaminants that have been found across dozens of sites tested so far, and that questions remain as to whether Detroit officials have orderedadequate testing and sufficiently communicated the risk to residents.
—Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The top lid screws securely over the straw to keep contaminants out, and the filter is a combination microfilter with a carbon insert that attaches to the straw portion of the lid.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Washing and drying the exterior will keep the paint clean and remove contaminants that could cause rust.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Standard soil testing labs can screen for lead (and other heavy metals, at an additional cost), but testing for other contaminants is comparatively more expensive.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Typical wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat biological contaminants, such as feces, not chemical contaminants.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
The warmth also helps any contaminants drain out, rather than settling at the bottom of cold oil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
The contaminants, toxicity and people responsible were often unknown.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminants
pollutants
Noun
-
Semiconductor manufacturing requires huge amounts of ultra-clean water to rinse residue from silicon chips during the fabrication process, resulting in wastewater that contains pollutants, including heavy metals, which can be toxic to aquatic ecosystems and humans.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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Now, its ability to do that for many air pollutants is under threat.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contaminants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminants. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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