pesticide

Definition of pesticidenext
as in poison
a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops The family farm has gradually moved away from the use of pesticides.

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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 pesticide Endangered western monarch butterflies depend on pesticide-free milkweed for food. Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 The families are looking to pesticides as a potential cause of the spike in rare childhood cancers in Ladera Ranch. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Over several decades, hundreds and hundreds of tons — hundreds of thousands of gallons — of acid waste from the pesticide DDT and even DDT itself were dumped into the ocean off the Palos Verdes Peninsula and near Catalina Island. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 This helps avoid harming pollinators like bees and prevents the sun from degrading the pesticide or burning the plants. Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
  • Someone on the way out steals that mask, leaving Juliette in danger of succumbing to the poison.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Stone, who was not involved with the work, suggests that the brothers died because of malarial infection but that toxicological analyses would have to be done to know whether poison also played a role.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Researchers found that 40% of the 97 participants had higher concentrations of a toxicant associated with the defunct LCP Chemicals plant than the national average.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • The ash from open burning can also contaminate soil and groundwater with persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and other toxicants, creating more chances for people to be exposed to them through food and water.
    Ellen M. Considine, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • In 7 to 10 days, if the mound still is active, use a powder, dust or liquid insecticide directly on the mounds.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
  • It’s not typically recommended as an insecticide for vegetable gardens.
    Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Both are suitable methods for killing weeds without using herbicides or chemicals.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
  • Use ground covers, mulch, and herbicides to prevent the spread of poison ivy and safely remove it when necessary.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Garlic’s strong odor repels many insects and acts as a mild fungicide.
    Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
  • Keep a fungicide handy to apply as needed.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Each venom is a unique cocktail of peptides and proteins that can cause muscular paralysis, tissue destruction, cardiac arrest, or other effects.
    Steve Midway, STAT, 16 July 2026
  • Given the absence of venom, the researchers propose that these arachnids likely use strong raptorial pedipalps (claw-like appendages).
    Jay Kakade July 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • In late May, about 50,000 people in Orange County were evacuated because, at a Garden Grove site operated by GKN Aerospace, tanks holding a volatile hazardous chemical called methyl methacrylate were at risk of exploding or leaking toxics.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Munoz is an independent toxicologist working in collaboration with MAHA against pesticides and toxics.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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