as in polluting
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump
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Recent Examples of contaminating
Kennedy added the feds will now focus on microplastics contaminating water.
—
Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Just last month, a massive oil spill in the Gulf spread more than 373 miles and into seven nature reserves, contaminating at least six species and sending 800 tons of hydrocarbon-laden waste into the ocean.
—Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
This link, as expected, appears strongest in coastal areas where seawater is increasingly contaminating freshwater supplies.
—Rajiv Chowdhury, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2026
The risk of contaminating the aquifer is a long and sincerely held fear among critics like Leigh Ford, executive director of the Snake River Alliance, a nuclear watchdog.
—Mark Dee
april 13, Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026
This can be a contaminating breeding ground if there were to be leaks that damage packaging, or an invitation for pests to munch on your items before you.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Although banned in Venezuela, mercury remains prevalent in mining areas, contaminating rivers and exposing workers and nearby communities to toxic effects.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
These compounds do not break down in the environment and can easily migrate into the air, dust, food and soil, also contaminating nearly half the drinking water in the United States.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Don't risk contaminating the soil, starting a fire, or worse to remove a stump.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Just last month, a massive oil spill in the Gulf spread more than 373 miles and into seven nature reserves, contaminating at least six species and sending 800 tons of hydrocarbon-laden waste into the ocean.
—Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
This link, as expected, appears strongest in coastal areas where seawater is increasingly contaminating freshwater supplies.
—Rajiv Chowdhury, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2026
The risk of contaminating the aquifer is a long and sincerely held fear among critics like Leigh Ford, executive director of the Snake River Alliance, a nuclear watchdog.
—Mark Dee
april 13, Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026
This can be a contaminating breeding ground if there were to be leaks that damage packaging, or an invitation for pests to munch on your items before you.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Although banned in Venezuela, mercury remains prevalent in mining areas, contaminating rivers and exposing workers and nearby communities to toxic effects.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
These compounds do not break down in the environment and can easily migrate into the air, dust, food and soil, also contaminating nearly half the drinking water in the United States.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Don't risk contaminating the soil, starting a fire, or worse to remove a stump.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminating
Verb
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As of last April, the state environmental agency was also lagging behind on inspections of polluting facilities, according to the audit.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2026
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In the industrial revolution, emissions from factories and eventually cars began polluting our air, trapping atmospheric gases and warming our planet, pushing temperatures to dangerous levels.—
Brandon Goldner,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The young woman who sojourned to Oberlin College, where she was wrongfully accused of poisoning her classmates and beaten half to death, who raised her hands in defense of herself, then went on to grip clay and rock and chisel to re-create visions of justice.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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Protesters, however, say that HERC, which neighbors Target Field near the North Loop neighborhood, is responsible for essentially poisoning people who live nearby.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contaminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminating. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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