1
as in contamination
the action or process of making the environment dirty or harmful
The company designed devices to reduce the pollution of the world's oceans.
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2
as in corruption
something that makes (someone) less pure, honest, or moral
They refused to let their children play violent video games, believing that they caused pollution in a developing mind.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pollution
Last week, the wind-power green scam artists were back in federal court, arguing to be permitted to keep squandering billions more on those insane offshore windmills that produce next to no energy, but plenty of pollution.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
One approach to addressing casualty risks is to design spacecraft to demise entirely, but this exacerbates the atmosphere pollution problem, said Boley.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
About 9% of all recycled products collected are reused, so in any flow chart of pollution, there are many places where nonprofits can make gains.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Repurposing or donating your gadgets prevents waste and pollution.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
One approach to addressing casualty risks is to design spacecraft to demise entirely, but this exacerbates the atmosphere pollution problem, said Boley.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
About 9% of all recycled products collected are reused, so in any flow chart of pollution, there are many places where nonprofits can make gains.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Repurposing or donating your gadgets prevents waste and pollution.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Beyond the initial findings, additional testing conducted along the Potomac River shows how far the contamination spread and how dramatically bacteria levels varied depending on location.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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However, its effects are increasingly visible in the form of algal blooms, fish kills and contamination of drinking water supplies.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But health policy experts have warned the new strategy carries risks for corruption and missing the most vulnerable people.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Under Erdoğan’s orders, prosecutors used charges of corruption, bribery, and support for terrorism to arrest Istanbul’s mayor and more than 100 other administrators of the Istanbul municipality.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Air quality varies based on the type of pollutants in the cycle and can have dramatic ramifications for those breathing nearby.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Currently, sewage and industrial waste drops from culvert pipes onto rocks below, creating splashing that releases airborne pollutants including hydrogen sulfide.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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