as in pesticides
a chemical used to destroy plants or stop plant growth
An herbicide widely used to control weeds.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 herbicides
Look for legume-specific herbicides like clopyralid or triclopyr, which won’t harm surrounding trees or grass.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
Decades of American farmers’ overreliance on both fertilizers and quick chemical solutions like pesticides and herbicides have slowly chipped away at soil health for decades.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Now, climate change is the top reason, with others including pesticides, herbicides and competition from honeybees.
—Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
These products have both herbicides and fertilizers in them.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
Avoid using herbicides or pesticides to create the optimal pollinator-friendly habitat.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Examining the land Various former golf courses facing redevelopment in South Florida have dealt with remnants of arsenic through the decades, the result of herbicides and pesticides being used long ago, the Sun Sentinel reported in a June 2017 news article.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Preemergent herbicides are often combined with fertilizers for lawns, and sold as a weed-and-feed product.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
Decades of American farmers’ overreliance on both fertilizers and quick chemical solutions like pesticides and herbicides have slowly chipped away at soil health for decades.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Now, climate change is the top reason, with others including pesticides, herbicides and competition from honeybees.
—Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
These products have both herbicides and fertilizers in them.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
Avoid using herbicides or pesticides to create the optimal pollinator-friendly habitat.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Examining the land Various former golf courses facing redevelopment in South Florida have dealt with remnants of arsenic through the decades, the result of herbicides and pesticides being used long ago, the Sun Sentinel reported in a June 2017 news article.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Preemergent herbicides are often combined with fertilizers for lawns, and sold as a weed-and-feed product.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herbicides
pesticides
Noun
-
The issue is whether the fact that the EPA, which regulates pesticides and has not required a warning label like that, whether that means that John can or cannot sue in state court.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
No pesticides were detected in 99% of samples.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Herbicides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herbicides. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
