as in to contaminate
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
outmoded factories polluting the air
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 pollute
The attorney general’s office said that plastic retail bags comprise much of the waste that is polluting California’s ecosystems and clogging its waterways.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
Farming them also drives desertification in Mongolia, where the dust blows high in June, polluting the air as far afield as America, and making workers ill.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2023, construction executive Jim Salata and several colleagues took it upon themselves to remove the tarp, clean up polluting microplastics from the property, dispose of some of the site’s debris, and repair a hole in the church’s roof.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
That includes farmers who have had sludge from water treatment plants spread on their land containing PFAS, fire departments, airports and municipalities, people who own land that was polluted by PFAS originating from another nearby property or waste facilities that accepted PFAS.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollute
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
Farming them also drives desertification in Mongolia, where the dust blows high in June, polluting the air as far afield as America, and making workers ill.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2023, construction executive Jim Salata and several colleagues took it upon themselves to remove the tarp, clean up polluting microplastics from the property, dispose of some of the site’s debris, and repair a hole in the church’s roof.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
That includes farmers who have had sludge from water treatment plants spread on their land containing PFAS, fire departments, airports and municipalities, people who own land that was polluted by PFAS originating from another nearby property or waste facilities that accepted PFAS.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollute
Verb
-
Hormel Foods is recalling frozen ready-to-eat chicken products after they may have been contaminated with pieces of metal.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This follows a string of recent recalls from Costco, some of which have attracted nationwide attention including that of Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke (ingredients used could have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes) which sold at Costco locations across 37 states.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Leawood police fielded nearly 400 food-poisoning complaints and conducted about 130 interviews, a volume that briefly crashed the department’s records system, according to the Johnson County Post, KSHB 41 and KCTV5.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Chloe then baked a cake poisoned with oleander leaves killing the owner’s wife and some children.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One year ago, Martinsville was tainted by race manipulation on two counts.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
That means Zaha will be suspended for Game 1 of the playoffs against NYCFC, which tainted an otherwise near-perfect evening for the home team.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollute. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share