pesticides

Definition of pesticidesnext
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 Homeowners should start with bait and traps before moving on to pesticides — preferably ready-to-use ones that don’t require mixing chemicals, the agency said. Hali Smith april 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026 Examining the land Various former golf courses facing redevelopment in South Florida have dealt with remnants of arsenic through the decades, the result of herbicides and pesticides being used long ago, the Sun Sentinel reported in a June 2017 news article. Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026 Their argument is that mowing creates dead zones that lack resources for local species and can add pesticides and pollution via maintenance. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026 Thankfully, a handful of forward-thinking luxury resorts are working to eliminate the threat—without using pesticides. Degen Pener, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2026 In addition to worries about exacerbating water problems, there is increasing concerns about drinking water from wells and whether pesticides used at the driving range might contaminate them, Harper said. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026 Organic pesticides can still have environmental impacts because they are designed to control living organisms. Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026 Conscientious gardeners know that pesticides carry serious risks to beneficial insects. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 Its water level has been maintained primarily by agriculture irrigation runoff, which carries with it fertilizers, pesticides, salt and toxic metals. Jill Johnston, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
  • And nobody from the department asked the legislature to reconsider recent laws that gradually banned the strongest rat poisons.
    Susan Shelley, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Harold Allen obituary/Ashley Jones Facebook Investigators say those thousands of texts revealed Marsha and Ashley tried to kill Harold over and over again with a variety of exotic poisons.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Examining the land Various former golf courses facing redevelopment in South Florida have dealt with remnants of arsenic through the decades, the result of herbicides and pesticides being used long ago, the Sun Sentinel reported in a June 2017 news article.
    Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Apply preemergent herbicides in early to mid-spring before soil temperatures reach 55°F.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Combination vaccines are single injections that protect against multiple, preventable diseases and have been used since the 1940s.
    Kar-Hai Chu, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Through her work at Danielle Ashley Group, Alston in 2008 co-founded First Ladies Health Initiative, a far-reaching effort that seeks to destigmatize screening for various diseases and illnesses in underserved Black and Hispanic communities.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Toxins in many animal venoms, for example, are peptides.
    Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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