as in poison
a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops
The family farm has gradually moved away from the use of pesticides.
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Recent Examples of pesticide
But some ash trees in parks and backyards have been preserved through recurring pesticide applications, a process that can sometimes save Hoosier homeowners money in the long run compared to the hefty cost of tree removal and replacement.
—
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 16 July 2025
For both women, their efforts are a small way to combat the devastation human activity has brought to monarch butterfly populations, including climate change, deforestation and heavy pesticide use.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
The experts there suggested neem oil, which is a natural pesticide that does not contain harmful chemicals.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2025
These include light pollution, urban development, the use of pesticides and other chemicals sprayed in yards, and climate change.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 16 July 2025
For both women, their efforts are a small way to combat the devastation human activity has brought to monarch butterfly populations, including climate change, deforestation and heavy pesticide use.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
The experts there suggested neem oil, which is a natural pesticide that does not contain harmful chemicals.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2025
These include light pollution, urban development, the use of pesticides and other chemicals sprayed in yards, and climate change.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
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Just to name a few of the problems: gravity is too low, the radiation is too high, there’s no air, and the dirt is made of poison.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
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His rise is fueled by performance — raw charisma molded by handlers into populist poison.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
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In the 1970s, Claudia Miller, an allergist and environmental scientist, was studying how toxicants affect people in industrial settings and began noticing strange symptoms emerging after certain kinds of chemical exposures.—
Kate Raphael,
Discover Magazine,
23 June 2025
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Then, using a simulation, the team found that the warmth and weight of the sleeping child could increase the off-gassing of the toxicants.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When leaf miners attack small plants or causes major leaf damage, a natural insecticide containing spinosad provides effective control.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
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Here is an information sheet from UA extension with the current insecticide recommendations: uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/pest-management/insect/japanese-beetle.aspx.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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The industry claims that there are few alternative herbicides that can be effectively used in the large-scale control of weeds.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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Using herbicides early can have the best impact on keeping grasses and weeds from becoming a problem in your flower beds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
Noun
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The major preventable drivers for liver cancer include Hepatitis B and C, alcohol and liver diseases associated with obesity and metabolic dysfunction.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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The mosquitoes that spread the disease have developed immunity to some of the insecticides that have previously helped reduce the spread, Bier said in an interview.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If this is the case, application of a copper fungicide during flowering and fruiting following label instructions may help.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
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Unfortunately, most fungicides are not highly effective during hot weather.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Guitarist Tom Bukovac composed a flowing instrumental riff to open the performance, creating a little extra sweetness that helps hide the passive-aggressive venom.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
24 July 2025
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Though a bite from any rattlesnake is dangerous and should be treated immediately, the Mojave rattlesnake packs one of the most potent venoms with a nasty neurotoxic twist that can affect your nervous system.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Air toxics and health The five air toxics that Colorado selected all have negative impacts on health.—
Jenni Shearston,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
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The politics at Oakland Unified have moved from contentious to outright toxic in the past two years, with the board split on key votes around financial decisions.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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