as in poisoning
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 polluting
For that reason, many local opponents argue that if compressor stations are going to be expanded, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection should force Iroquois to utilize less-polluting technologies such as all-electric motors.
—
John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
View gallery - 4 images Electric passenger ferries offer a promising alternative to polluting fossil-fuel guzzlers given the relatively short hops these vessels need to make per trip.
—Stefan Ionescu
february 04, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Due to these conditions, the region is highly reliant on expensive and polluting diesel fuel transported by truck, plane, or barge.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.
—Bethany Barnes, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polluting
John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
View gallery - 4 images Electric passenger ferries offer a promising alternative to polluting fossil-fuel guzzlers given the relatively short hops these vessels need to make per trip.
—Stefan Ionescu
february 04, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Due to these conditions, the region is highly reliant on expensive and polluting diesel fuel transported by truck, plane, or barge.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.
—Bethany Barnes, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polluting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polluting
Verb
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Cindy Sommer — Todd’s widow, accused of poisoning her husband.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
2 Mar. 2026
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Lauber’s testimony Thursday is pivotal to the prosecution of Kouri Richins, who is accused of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Toxic materials, including mercury used to extract gold from ore, pour into rivers, contaminating the water and harming the workers, wildlife and surrounding communities that rely on local fish and wildfire.—
Antonio Machado Allison,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2026
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Don't risk contaminating the soil, starting a fire, or worse to remove a stump.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Played by cisgender actress Kathleen Turner, Charles proved to be one of the more divisive characters from Friends, tainting its cultural legacy for some critics.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
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Infected people and dogs had to be prevented from tainting water sources.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polluting. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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