as in contaminant
something that is or that makes impure
filtered the pollutants out of the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pollutant
Currently, sewage and industrial waste drops from culvert pipes onto rocks below, creating splashing that releases airborne pollutants including hydrogen sulfide.
—
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
All the salt, dirt, litter and pollutants picked up from roads when snow gets plowed can contaminate water bodies and kill aquatic plants and animals.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent studies have suggested that microplastics — most often found in the environment, air, water and food — can carry pollutants into human organs and cause health complications, such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular issues and cell damage.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Bringing in more outdoor air reduces the concentration of these pollutants in your home.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
All the salt, dirt, litter and pollutants picked up from roads when snow gets plowed can contaminate water bodies and kill aquatic plants and animals.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent studies have suggested that microplastics — most often found in the environment, air, water and food — can carry pollutants into human organs and cause health complications, such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular issues and cell damage.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Bringing in more outdoor air reduces the concentration of these pollutants in your home.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutant
Noun
-
As another plus, atmospheric water is free of the contaminants often present in ground sources, such as heavy metals and nitrates.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Those same frigid conditions, however, also make the polar craters efficient traps for modern contaminants, the study suggests.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond the initial findings, additional testing conducted along the Potomac River shows how far the contamination spread and how dramatically bacteria levels varied depending on location.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
However, its effects are increasingly visible in the form of algal blooms, fish kills and contamination of drinking water supplies.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutant. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
