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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pollution
Because the Planchón-Peteroa volcanic complex is remote, rugged and spans two countries, satellite imagery plays a vital role in monitoring volcanic activity, ash dispersal and potential impacts on air pollution, local communities and the environment.
—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But legal challenges from fossil fuel interests and their allies delayed the finalization of rules to rein in greenhouse gas pollution.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Without that finding, the federal government would no longer have the authority to regulate carbon pollution.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
There is a steady rise in respiratory diseases linked to air pollution.
—Vanessa Kerry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But legal challenges from fossil fuel interests and their allies delayed the finalization of rules to rein in greenhouse gas pollution.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Without that finding, the federal government would no longer have the authority to regulate carbon pollution.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
There is a steady rise in respiratory diseases linked to air pollution.
—Vanessa Kerry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Such weapons are considered ideal tools for terrorism, designed to cause fear, disruption, and long-term contamination rather than mass destruction.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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To avoid contamination, team members had their DNA genotyped so their own sequences could be identified and removed from the samples.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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India became Sri Lanka’s de facto lender of last resort without requiring the Sri Lankan government to address concerns about the human rights abuses, militarization, or corruption that fueled the country’s political crisis.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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But turnout has been persistently low, months of horse-trading to form a government are likely to follow, and voters are weary of high levels of corruption.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In fact, air purifiers that are designed with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are quite successful at removing both pollutants and much of the dust from indoor air.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
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Today slop’s pejorative bite is increasingly aimed at all things AI, treating it as an undeniable cultural pollutant.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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