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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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 In particular, applying pesticides and other techniques to control lamprey populations costs around $20 million per year. Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 By studying the birds’ nests, including those that are no longer in use, researchers can better understand factors that make habitats suitable, such as the basis of their diet or the effects of pesticides in the area, Margalida said. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 Consider using pesticides for severe infestations of adult beetles. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025 The Bardwells rotate their crops, minimize their use of pesticides, and presumably contribute to the de-poisoning of America’s K-12 cafeterias. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025 Loss of habitat and use of pesticides have shrunk the mascot’s numbers. Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025 Before eating, wash the watermelon thoroughly to remove any pesticides or impurities from the skin. Lauren Manaker Ms, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025 Many schools grow vegetables—without chemical pesticides of course. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Oct. 2025 These toxins include industrial solvents such as dioxins — dangerous chemicals created as by-products during manufacturing — as well as pesticides and some plastics. Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
  • In that timespan, prosecutors say Craig researched poisons and then bought arsenic, cyanide and other deadly substances and used them to kill his wife, Angela Craig.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
  • It is built for gas exchange, not for filtering poisons.
    Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Finally, some fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides also contain heavy metals that can further contaminate soil and local water.
    C. Michael White, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
  • If herbicides are needed for weed control, fall watering is essential for that, too.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • New diseases pop up all the time.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Because each cell type is cultured separately, they can be genetically edited to study specific diseases or therapeutic responses.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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

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“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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