as in poisons
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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 pesticides
The numbers have recovered significantly since the suspension of the use of pesticides like DDT in the 1970s.
—
Alan Gionet, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This may include the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
The use of pesticides reduces the availability of these important food sources, and robins are susceptible to pesticide poisoning, so avoid using pesticides in your landscape, including your lawn.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Owing to this, cornstarch production also consumes vast amounts of water and relies heavily on the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026
The company estimates its growing process uses 95% less water and 94% less land than conventional farming, and requires no herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.
—Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Experts stress that autism has many potential causes – including genetics, advanced parental age, and prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides – and that the science linking it to acetaminophen remains far from settled.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
Monsanto appealed, arguing this state law verdict is in conflict with federal law regulating pesticides.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In a landmark case two years later, French officials acknowledged a link between Emmy’s death and her exposure to pesticides during her mother’s pregnancy, when Laure was working as a florist.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
Alan Gionet, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This may include the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
The use of pesticides reduces the availability of these important food sources, and robins are susceptible to pesticide poisoning, so avoid using pesticides in your landscape, including your lawn.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Owing to this, cornstarch production also consumes vast amounts of water and relies heavily on the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026
The company estimates its growing process uses 95% less water and 94% less land than conventional farming, and requires no herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.
—Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Experts stress that autism has many potential causes – including genetics, advanced parental age, and prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides – and that the science linking it to acetaminophen remains far from settled.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
Monsanto appealed, arguing this state law verdict is in conflict with federal law regulating pesticides.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In a landmark case two years later, French officials acknowledged a link between Emmy’s death and her exposure to pesticides during her mother’s pregnancy, when Laure was working as a florist.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
-
Percy needs the fleece to save Camp Half-Blood after Luke poisons Thalia’s pine tree, weakening the protective barrier and allowing monsters to breach the camp.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Last November, a report from state wildlife officials found blood-thinning rat poisons in more than 69 percent of wildlife tested, including 95 percent of mountain lions and 100 percent of golden eagles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This may include the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Use of preemergence herbicides can also help.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The development of antibiotics, vaccines and advanced surgical techniques has virtually eliminated many diseases that once killed thousands annually.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
McLaughlin said the company chose to focus on these diseases partly because of their outsized impact on patients.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Funding a promising breakthrough In laboratory trials with rodents, the new nanobody antivenom prevented the deaths of mice exposed to venoms from 17 of the 18 snake species.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Neely Lab is interested in applying the technology to gene editing, having previously used CRISPR to understand the mechanisms behind how venoms cause cell death and pain, and how proteins bind to cells, including the crucial spike protein in SARS-CoV-2.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Environmental advocates say the new regulation of air toxics, which was required under a 2022 bill called Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants, will make the state’s air cleaner and its people healthier.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
