as in poisons
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
outmoded factories polluting the air
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Recent Examples of pollutes
The debris ultimately enters storm drains and the adjacent river, which pollutes our shoreline and environment.
—
Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms.
—Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
As my colleague Iris Kwok explains, that’s due to the state’s higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Climate change, industrial pollution, inadequate sanitation that pollutes drinking water sources with human waste — these are all factors in the water crisis.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
For example, forum participants said a person could sue a company or entity that pollutes a river because the river has the right to be pollution-free.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But to isolate gold, galamsey workers typically use poisonous mercury, which pollutes drinking water and farmland and has been linked to serious illness and birth defects.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Debris pollutes waterways, cooking fires may spread, and the District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly documented how homeless residents are more likely to be victims of crime.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Most space debris pollutes low-Earth orbit.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 22 Sep. 2025
Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms.
—Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
As my colleague Iris Kwok explains, that’s due to the state’s higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Climate change, industrial pollution, inadequate sanitation that pollutes drinking water sources with human waste — these are all factors in the water crisis.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
For example, forum participants said a person could sue a company or entity that pollutes a river because the river has the right to be pollution-free.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But to isolate gold, galamsey workers typically use poisonous mercury, which pollutes drinking water and farmland and has been linked to serious illness and birth defects.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Debris pollutes waterways, cooking fires may spread, and the District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly documented how homeless residents are more likely to be victims of crime.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Most space debris pollutes low-Earth orbit.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutes
Verb
-
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Putting even a small piece of trash in the recycling stream or non-compostable items in the compost bin can require additional effort to re-sort at processing facilities, which increases costs and energy usage, or contaminates the entire process altogether, ultimately creating more trash.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This act contaminates the water, kills all the fish, and makes the water non-potable.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The former is caused by bacteria that infects the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to inflammation.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Mumps infects the salivary glands below the ears.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutes. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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