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pollutes

verb

present tense third-person singular of pollute
as in poisons
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable outmoded factories polluting the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pollutes The usual analogy is that generative AI and LLMs are akin to a factory that pollutes local waters. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The Chenab River runs red with blood while poison pollutes the five rivers of Punjab and spreads through the fertile soil. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 New rules require hundreds of businesses to clean up runoff from large parking lots that pollutes creeks and beaches. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air. — Ed Maibach, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutes
  1. poisons
  2. contaminates
  3. taints
  4. infects
  5. defiles
Verb
  • Set in 2029 in a future where no mutants have been born in 25 years, Jackman plays an older, grizzlier Wolverine, one whose healing factor is fading as his adamantium skeleton slowly poisons him.
    — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Any infection can progress to a systemic disease that poisons the blood and body.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of poisons
Verb
  • This is caused by sewage breaking down which contaminates the water as the toxic gas is released.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite that contaminates food or water.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of contaminates
Verb
  • Four families living near Meta’s Newton County data center are suing the tech giant, claiming the massive facility taints their drinking water and disrupts their daily lives.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of taints
Verb
  • There are also rare, severe neuroinvasive cases, when the virus infects the brain.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The type that usually makes people sick isn’t the same type that usually infects dogs and cats.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of infects
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
Definition of defiles

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polluted
pollutes
polluting
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Cite this Entry

“Pollutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutes. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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