as in to contaminate
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
outmoded factories polluting the air
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pollute
Seventy percent of the beaches in Gaza are polluted with sewage because of the lack of electricity, preventing them from treating wastewater.
—
Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
And while housing grows increasingly unaffordable, homeless camps have exploded, spilling into city parks, crowding sidewalks, and polluting sensitive waterways, despite unprecedented public spending.
—Angela Hart, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
Tesla’s stock value is losing its charge as anti-Musk sentiment pollutes the brand.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2025
As one example, critics point to a 2023 rulemaking that required the state’s 18 largest manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but created what environmentalists describe as a pay-to-pollute system through which companies can buy and sell credits on an exchange market.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollute
Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
And while housing grows increasingly unaffordable, homeless camps have exploded, spilling into city parks, crowding sidewalks, and polluting sensitive waterways, despite unprecedented public spending.
—Angela Hart, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
Tesla’s stock value is losing its charge as anti-Musk sentiment pollutes the brand.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2025
As one example, critics point to a 2023 rulemaking that required the state’s 18 largest manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but created what environmentalists describe as a pay-to-pollute system through which companies can buy and sell credits on an exchange market.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollute
Verb
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If somehow they had been left out for too long or contaminated before they were frozen—by a dirty prep area or dirty utensils, for example—the freezing process does not kill the pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
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But it has also been badly contaminated by the chemical manufacturing industry.—
Li Cohen,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Calls to poison control centers for pediatric melatonin ingestion increased 530 percent between 2012 and 2021, according to one analysis published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Apologies to the late John Lennon, but that song has been tainted for many. Need a break?—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
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The river is tainted with harmful toxins from industrial waste, trash and untreated sewage.—
Kimberly Dickson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollute. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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