as in poisons
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pesticides
Urban streams accumulate the waste of cities—runoff of pesticides, herbicides, oil, and whatever else.
—
Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Growers must meet more requirements to be certified organic, such as restrictions on pesticides and fertilizers.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
One reason is climate change – specifically, stronger hurricanes, more frequent fires and the use of more pesticides.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
The Home Depot suggests pesticides like diatomaceous earth for hard-to-reach spots like the back of cabinets or along the exterior of your home.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025
Several studies have found neurological impacts associated with pesticides.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Cotton farming can involve massive quantities of pesticides, and yarn dyeing pollutes waterways with toxic chemicals.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the National Corn Growers Association reports that production costs – including expenses for seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and machinery – remain near record highs.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Regenerative grain refers to grain that is grown and harvested using methods to enhance soil instead of depleting it, like not using pesticides and planting crops that encourage biodiversity.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Growers must meet more requirements to be certified organic, such as restrictions on pesticides and fertilizers.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
One reason is climate change – specifically, stronger hurricanes, more frequent fires and the use of more pesticides.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
The Home Depot suggests pesticides like diatomaceous earth for hard-to-reach spots like the back of cabinets or along the exterior of your home.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025
Several studies have found neurological impacts associated with pesticides.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Cotton farming can involve massive quantities of pesticides, and yarn dyeing pollutes waterways with toxic chemicals.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the National Corn Growers Association reports that production costs – including expenses for seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and machinery – remain near record highs.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Regenerative grain refers to grain that is grown and harvested using methods to enhance soil instead of depleting it, like not using pesticides and planting crops that encourage biodiversity.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticides
Noun
-
Canadian wildfires prematurely kill Americans and vice versa; slash and burn farming in rural Cambodia poisons Phnom Penhers.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
While standard rat poisons accumulate in the animal’s body, the active ingredient in the Good Works contraceptive is rapidly metabolized in the rat’s liver.—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As a long-time environmental lawyer, Kennedy has spoken out frequently against the use of agricultural pesticides and herbicides.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The forest preserves offer various resources online about how to remove buckthorn, including herbicides.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the current era, the government health system might need to rely more on private health care facilities, especially to help tackle other surging diseases like malaria, already rising in Southern Africa.—
Brian Simpson,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Public health experts have widely credited the shots protecting against MMRV, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 for lowering the prevalence of diseases, but several ACIP members cast doubt over the safety and efficacy of the vaccines this week.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Neely Lab is interested in applying the technology to gene editing, having previously used CRISPR to understand the mechanisms behind how venoms cause cell death and pain, and how proteins bind to cells, including the crucial spike protein in SARS-CoV-2.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesticides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticides. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share