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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Recent Examples of pesticide
Natural pesticides offering some downy mildew control include need oils and copper fungicides.
—
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
The fastest way to get rid of earwigs is to spray them with a DIY pesticide treatment, like Raid® Ant & Roach Killer.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Taylor says that the process of making the tea will not remove existing chemicals from the grass blades, so this shouldn’t be done with grass that has been treated with herbicides and pesticides.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
To protect their crops, farmers purchase more chemical pesticides, so their costs rise as yields decline.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
The fastest way to get rid of earwigs is to spray them with a DIY pesticide treatment, like Raid® Ant & Roach Killer.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Taylor says that the process of making the tea will not remove existing chemicals from the grass blades, so this shouldn’t be done with grass that has been treated with herbicides and pesticides.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
To protect their crops, farmers purchase more chemical pesticides, so their costs rise as yields decline.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
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Officials are relying heavily on poison control reports and are working to add amatoxin poisoning to the state’s list of reportable conditions.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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On its lip, a small snail is not only basking in the poison but converting it into a shell that is part iron.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Noun
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In the 1970s, Claudia Miller, an allergist and environmental scientist, was studying how toxicants affect people in industrial settings and began noticing strange symptoms emerging after certain kinds of chemical exposures.—
Kate Raphael,
Discover Magazine,
23 June 2025
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Then, using a simulation, the team found that the warmth and weight of the sleeping child could increase the off-gassing of the toxicants.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The secret to the best control is to make the insecticide applications, following label instructions, before flower buds begin to open.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
Hang wasp traps or spray insecticide.—
Barbara Bellesi Zito,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Using Pesticides in the Garden Keeping an immaculate garden usually relies on pesticides and herbicides.—
Lauren David,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
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Baking soda weed killer is a non-selective herbicide.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Over time, however, the disease has spread across the East Coast and Midwest, with diagnoses reaching 35 states.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
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In later life, this formative programming can increase the risk of not only mental illnesses like depression, but physical diseases too, such as cancer and obesity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Some types of fungus can't be treated effectively with a fungicide.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
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The traditional fungicide, Daconil, also provides some control.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Noun
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When picturing a predator, most people envision an animal with immense speed, sharp teeth or deadly venom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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Some people have an allergic reaction to the venom.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Manufacturers should be diligently working to clean up their supply chains and manufacturing practices to ensure their products are free of PFAS and other toxics.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
1 May 2026
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Taking supporting women’s wrongs—and rights—to new levels, everyone’s favorite toxic on-screen Girl Boss duo are back for a fourth season of Industry: Harper Stern and Yasmin Kara-Hanani.—
Chloe Laws,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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