Thesaurus results for PESTICIDE

pesticide

noun

Definition of pesticide

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 The company’s new Aura software measures hive health, pollen counts, and pesticide prevalence across its 2,200 hives spread around more than 70 cities. — Drew Robb, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The Reason Apples Are Coated With Wax After harvesting, apples are washed to remove dirt, debris, and pesticides. — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026 Many modern pesticides are non-toxic and formulated with plant oils such as lemongrass, cinnamon, and garlic. — Joan Murray, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 According to the Clean Label report, wet or air-dried products are preferable to dry food for lower lead exposure, while avoiding foods with plants in the top 10 ingredients may lower pesticide exposure. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pesticide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide

Noun

My grandson, five years old, was told by his parents that alcohol is poison.

— R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Along with the murder charge, Von Ferdinand faces special circumstance allegations of killing Jett for financial gain and administering poison, Stephan said.

— Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of poison

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

Definition of toxicant

Noun

Thallium, an ingredient in an insecticide used to kill pests in the child’s home, was confirmed via urine testing — the baby had accidentally ingested it.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
In Malabo, Bioko’s biggest city, a team of men and women equipped with insecticide sprayers squeezed between low-rise cement buildings on a recent morning, as heavy rain drummed on aluminum roofs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of insecticide

Noun

If warmer temperatures mean more weeds, in turn leading to more herbicides, then these chemicals could drift over to nearby natural areas, already a significant problem in Illinois, Zaya said.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2026
His opponent is the incumbent, Mike Naig, a former lobbyist for Monsanto, the industrial giant that marketed Roundup, a weed killer that in some cases contains the controversial herbicide glyphosate.

— Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of herbicide

Noun

Both can be treated by improving soil structure, enhancing drainage, adjusting watering practices, or treating affected plants with a fungicide, says Vasylchyshyna.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
If pests or diseases like fungal infections are to blame, the next step is to apply an appropriate fungicide or natural pesticide.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fungicide

Noun

After weighing a few options, the team settled on scorpion antivenom, a costly treatment that can be difficult to produce, often involving injecting venom into horses.

— Robert Hart, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
Existing antivenoms are generally produced by immunizing animals, including horses, with venom and extracting antibodies from their blood.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of venom

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

Definition of toxic

Browse Nearby Words

pesters

pesticide

pesticides

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“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pesticide

noun

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