POLLUTANT Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

pollutant

noun

pə-ˈlü-tᵊnt

Definition of pollutant

as in contaminant

something that is or that makes impure filtered the pollutants out of the water

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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 pollutant Facilities would have to be on land zoned for heavy industrial use and could not be located near disadvantaged communities or populations sensitive to pollutants, such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Ancient rock art at Murujuga, or the Burrup Peninsula, in Western Australia, has seen much larger damaged than previously anticipated due to industrial pollutants found in air emissions. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 How this potent mix of pollutants transforms over time and distance is a complex puzzle. — Michael A. Robinson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 According to the report, most of the cancer risk - 74% - comes from a single pollutant, benzo[a]pyrene, that escapes through leaks in pipe fittings and storage tanks. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollutant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutant

Noun

As catastrophic as the fires were for those who lost everything, people whose homes remain standing have been exasperated by insurance company refusals to cover the removal of lingering hazardous contaminants.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
That’s in part due to their handling of homes requiring cleaning due to smoke and other contaminants caused by the fires.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of contaminant

Noun

About 15 percent of a subset of the products tested contained measurable levels of endotoxin, a sign of bacterial contamination during manufacture.

— Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
The researchers hope that in the future it will be used to identify counterfeit perfumes, detect pesticide contamination in olive oil, and offer better quality control across agriculture in general.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of contamination

Browse Nearby Words

poll taxes

pollutant

pollutants

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“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutant. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pollutant

noun

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