pesticides

plural of pesticide
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.

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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 Tests revealed the water is contaminated with nitrate, which can come from fertilizer, animal manure or human sewage, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane, a hazardous chemical that was widely used in pesticides years ago. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 However, critics, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say those levels are much too high and fail to address the health impact of long-term, cumulative exposure to multiple pesticides. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 Ecology remained characteristic of her approach, but Carson now broadened her aims to encompass a mobilization of public opinion equal to the task of addressing the widespread harms of chemical pesticides in everyday life and agricultural ecosystems alike. Literary Hub, 8 June 2026 Unless, of course, one apple is giant, glossy, improbably red, but also covered in pesticides, while the other is smaller, organic, perhaps a bit mealy in parts, but better for you in the ways that matter most. Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 While studies have been done to see how these chemicals affect animals, including some pollinators, there are no tests observing how those pesticides will react with each other in a bee's body. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026 Middle Eastern countries are major providers of petrochemicals used to create fertilizers and pesticides that are essential to produce our food. Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 7 June 2026 Avoid using pesticides and herbicides as much as possible, especially broad-spectrum products. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 June 2026 But the proliferation of the modern farmers market came on the heels of the back-to-the-Earth movement, which gave voice to a growing distrust of industrial farming that relied on herbicides and pesticides, and viewed the smaller markets as a healthy alternative. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
  • Anyone concered about a wild rat infestation should contact a professional exterminator or vector-control agency, since commercial poisons can still allow for the spread of the disease.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
  • At least five toxins were detected in his body, including deadly poisons such as mercury and tetrodotoxin, according to reports from Chinese media.
    Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • De la Espriella has promised to cancel the talks and take a more confrontational approach to rebel groups that includes using airplanes to spray coca fields with herbicides.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 June 2026
  • The term includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other products designed to control specific types of pests.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Any time people from around the world gather together, the risk of certain diseases goes up.
    Alice Park, Time, 12 June 2026
  • Water shortages, limited hygiene and extreme heat and humidity continue to accelerate the spread of these diseases.
    Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Some people are allergic to different venoms, and could experience life-threatening anaphylaxis without immediate treatment.
    Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
  • Natural products inspired by organisms include GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, spider and snake venoms, and compounds from plants and fungi with potential uses in pain relief and cancer treatment.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • 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

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“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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