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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contaminating
That type of weedkiller controls all grasses without contaminating the soil.
—
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent studies show microplastics contaminating even the deepest ocean trenches, over 10,000 meters deep.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
To relieve the burning pain, people plunge the affected limb in streams or ponds, triggering the release of thousands of larvae and contaminating the water source.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
The government ignored Hamilton’s warning, and for 50 years lead spewed from every car’s tailpipe, contaminating the air, soil, and bodies of generations.
—Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
At such a depth, there's no chance of contaminating the water table and, contrary to popular belief, uranium doesn't leach very far through solid rock even over millions of years.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Can it be taken without an unacceptable risk of contaminating the supply from the ocean above?
—Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The compression system inside is genius, and the sectioned divider keeps my dirty clothes from contaminating the rest of my items (major win).
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent studies show microplastics contaminating even the deepest ocean trenches, over 10,000 meters deep.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
To relieve the burning pain, people plunge the affected limb in streams or ponds, triggering the release of thousands of larvae and contaminating the water source.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
The government ignored Hamilton’s warning, and for 50 years lead spewed from every car’s tailpipe, contaminating the air, soil, and bodies of generations.
—Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
At such a depth, there's no chance of contaminating the water table and, contrary to popular belief, uranium doesn't leach very far through solid rock even over millions of years.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Can it be taken without an unacceptable risk of contaminating the supply from the ocean above?
—Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The compression system inside is genius, and the sectioned divider keeps my dirty clothes from contaminating the rest of my items (major win).
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contaminating
Verb
-
Threats to these sites from the outside include logging and mining in the region, developing nearby land, diverting natural water flows, and polluting the air, water and land.—
Jessica Beaudette,
The Conversation,
11 Oct. 2025
-
This invisible, climate-polluting gas can escape into the water through fissures in the sea floor, often revealing itself with a stream of bubbles weaving their way up to the ocean surface.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hogan initially denied poisoning her estranged husband, according to police, but later changed her story.—
Mike Stunson,
Miami Herald,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Krishna discovers that Kaliya is living beneath the surface of a local pond and poisoning its waters with his venom.—
Seamus Sullivan
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contaminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contaminating. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share