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
Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
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
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutes
Verb
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Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
And two, baking soda is an indiscriminate weed killer that poisons the soil.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While water salinity isn't a major issue in most regulated urban water systems, Gupta said the concern mainly applies in coastal and low-lying regions where saltwater intrusion contaminates groundwater, increasing sodium concentrations in drinking water.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
-
The practice contaminates the legal supply chain, threatens public health, and erases tax liability, industry insiders and officials say.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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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
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Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a rash.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
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The Sin Nombre hantavirus is the most common cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in North America and infects humans by way of the saliva, urine or droppings of deer mice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Verb
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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 May. 2026.
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