polluting
adjective
pol·lut·ing
pə-ˈlü-tiŋ 
: causing pollution
… a region that has been dependent upon basic industries such as coal mining and metal work—relatively polluting industries.—
Patricia L. Layman
Patricia L. LaymanThe recycling process itself can be polluting. Recyclers find it difficult to separate recyclable from nonrecyclable plastics, which causes the end product to be useless.—Sally Hayhow Cullen
Sally Hayhow CullenExamples of polluting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Typically, sales of the gas are restricted during the summer due to the volatility of ethanol and its contribution to smog, but the Farm Bureau maintains that new studies show the blend is non-polluting.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
McCrady trusts Scott-Henry and city officials to work with the EPA and IDEM, and to prioritize development that’s non-polluting.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
One couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place to host one of the most polluting industries.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The delays keep families dependent on older, more expensive and more polluting energy sources.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polluting
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Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
McCrady trusts Scott-Henry and city officials to work with the EPA and IDEM, and to prioritize development that’s non-polluting.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
One couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place to host one of the most polluting industries.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The delays keep families dependent on older, more expensive and more polluting energy sources.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polluting
Cite this Entry
“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polluting. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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