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
The construction of several majors freeways during the 1950s in the Eastside essentially created a pollution bubble for many Latino residents.
—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The cleanup of large industrial pollution sites in Waterbury and Ansonia-Seymour received $4 million each, but otherwise New Britain got the biggest share.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
Climate change, along with increases in nutrient pollution, could cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) to occur more frequently, according to the agency.
—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
When pollution drives healthcare spending, GDP rises.
—
Tenzin Seldon,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The cleanup of large industrial pollution sites in Waterbury and Ansonia-Seymour received $4 million each, but otherwise New Britain got the biggest share.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
Climate change, along with increases in nutrient pollution, could cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) to occur more frequently, according to the agency.
—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
When pollution drives healthcare spending, GDP rises.
—
Tenzin Seldon,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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These advisories account for that lingering contamination.
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The plans have touched off stiff opposition from neighbors worried about soil erosion, already a problem in an area of steeply sloping topography, and potential well contamination.
Noun
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The council made similar appointments when Patrick Cannon stepped down in 2014 after he was indicted on public corruption charges and in 2013 when Anthony Foxx left the city to become the federal secretary of transportation.
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When self-interest matures into corruption, the machine begins to strain.
Noun
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Following the recommendations from the NWS helps bolster your safety during air quality alerts, minimizing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants.
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Huxley added heatwaves are usually caused by high air pressure systems, leading to less air movement and increasing the build-up of air pollution, with methane and other pollutants reacting to create ground-level ozone – a component of smog.
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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