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
Limiting runoff from pesticides and fertilizers often used on lawns can reduce saltwater intrusion in aquifers and contamination in waterways, Davidson said.
—
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Environmental groups support paying farmers to leave flood-prone land because floodwater that spreads across farm fields washes fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals into rivers, causing a range of down-river harms.
—Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Potential concerns included security and nearby farm pesticides drifting into the outdoor growing areas.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
To ensure pollination, plant trees in guilds and avoid broad-spectrum synthetic pesticides.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Each agave plant takes at least seven years to mature and is farmed without pesticides or chemicals before being roasted, fermented, and distilled in copper stills.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The Clean Label Project screened 134 products and found heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants in many protein powders.
—Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2025
Runoff from cultivation sites may taint the water due to the presence of pesticides.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Runoff from the site may have been contaminated by a large variety of pesticides that were used in growing marijuana, the NPS said, potentially exposing both park visitors and wildlife to toxic materials.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Environmental groups support paying farmers to leave flood-prone land because floodwater that spreads across farm fields washes fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals into rivers, causing a range of down-river harms.
—Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Potential concerns included security and nearby farm pesticides drifting into the outdoor growing areas.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
To ensure pollination, plant trees in guilds and avoid broad-spectrum synthetic pesticides.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Each agave plant takes at least seven years to mature and is farmed without pesticides or chemicals before being roasted, fermented, and distilled in copper stills.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The Clean Label Project screened 134 products and found heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants in many protein powders.
—Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2025
Runoff from cultivation sites may taint the water due to the presence of pesticides.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Runoff from the site may have been contaminated by a large variety of pesticides that were used in growing marijuana, the NPS said, potentially exposing both park visitors and wildlife to toxic materials.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
-
Canadian wildfires prematurely kill Americans and vice versa; slash and burn farming in rural Cambodia poisons Phnom Penhers.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
While standard rat poisons accumulate in the animal’s body, the active ingredient in the Good Works contraceptive is rapidly metabolized in the rat’s liver.—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The forest preserves offer various resources online about how to remove buckthorn, including herbicides.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Incorporating these alternative management strategies can significantly reduce and even eliminate the need for herbicides.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Fox News' Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in healthcare, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Will eradicated diseases make a comeback if vaccination rates decline?—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
5 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share