polluted 1 of 2

Definition of pollutednext

polluted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pollute

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 polluted
Adjective
Their waterways are polluted and undrinkable, yet citizens still wash their clothes and utensils in them. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026 The neighborhoods closest to the data center are already some of the most polluted in Denver, the organizers noted. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026 Asthma worsens with polluted air. Yoca Arditi-Rocha, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026 The air is so polluted and the cancer rates so high it is known as Cancer Alley. Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Weather officials urge people to limit their outdoor activity as much as possible, especially those with existing health issues, to avoid breathing in the polluted air. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 16 Feb. 2026 Caleb Roberts, the director of Downwinders at Risk, said once again, the most vulnerable and polluted communities are left behind. Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026 Water from the Yamuna – considered sacred and worshipped by millions – has become so polluted by ammonia from industrial waste that water plants have been unable to treat it. Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026 Outdoor air quality and temperature are key—clean, cool air can help, but polluted or overly dry air can hinder sleep. Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
If our aquifer becomes massively polluted by cows, the clean water our rural communities and springs rely upon would be put at risk. Harper West, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026 Many of those springs have either stopped flowing, been cut off by development or been polluted. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026 Manatees often find refuge in natural springs during cold weather, but many of those springs have either stopped flowing, been cut off by development or been polluted. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026 When natural springs stop flowing, are cut off by development or are polluted, manatees do not wait for conditions to improve. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026 Trump blamed Democrats, including Moore, for the spill that has polluted the river that cuts through Washington, DC. Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 All the money in the world isn’t going to save you when the air is polluted and the water is undrinkable. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026 By how much less polluted the state is. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 Public spaces are routinely polluted by blaring music packed with profanity and racial slurs, and no one thinks twice about it. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polluted
Adjective
  • If exposed, find fresh air, rinse your eyes with room-temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes, remove contaminated clothing, and wash your body with soap and water.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Mercury exposure in humans, which can affect the brain, cardiovascular and nervous systems, often occurs through consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish.
    Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Other witnesses could include relatives of the defendant and her late husband, and friends of Eric Richins who have recounted phone conversations from the day prosecutors say he was first poisoned by his wife of nine years.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Turns out, Chris lied about touching a stone mid-play and has quietly poisoned every victory and memory the team has enjoyed since.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And political clouds — far out of her reach or control — have tainted public perception of her transformation project.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Weinstein and his lawyers argued that the retrial verdict was tainted by infighting and bullying among jurors.
    CBS News, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Spray the door generously with cleaner or use a microfiber cloth to wet the door with the diluted vinegar mixture.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Clean the feeders with hot water, a hummingbird feeder brush, and a diluted vinegar solution (one part vinegar, two parts water).
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
  • For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.
    Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2020
Adjective
  • The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.
    Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 2 Feb. 2023
  • And while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that an adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also leading to deaths.
    Nadia Kounang, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
Adjective
  • Researchers say a growing number of young people are turning to AI to navigate social situations — drafting rejection texts, decoding mixed signals and scripting difficult conversations.
    Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The pain fell hardest on all-female founding teams, which posted steeper drops in both deal value and count than mixed-gender cohorts, continuing a now multi-year divergence.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Kanto practitioners believe that women cannot participate because, according to Japan's Shinto religion, women's blood from menstruation and childbirth is considered impure for the purpose of religious rituals.
    Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Their inclusion underlines the wider context of the film, provoking the audience to hold these pure and impure images together.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Polluted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polluted. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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