POLLUTE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'pollute' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pollute are contaminate , defile , and taint . While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," pollute , sometimes interchangeable with contaminate , distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy. // the polluted waters of the river

Q: When can 'contaminate' be used instead of 'pollute'?

The words contaminate and pollute can be used in similar contexts, but contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. // water contaminated by industrial wastes

Q: When is 'defile' a more appropriate choice than 'pollute'?

The words defile and pollute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration. // defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Q: When is it sensible to use 'taint' instead of 'pollute'?

The synonyms taint and pollute are sometimes interchangeable, but taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination. // tainted meat // a politician's tainted reputation

pollute

verb

pə-ˈlüt

Definition of pollute next

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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How does the verb pollute contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pollute are contaminate, defile, and taint. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

When can contaminate be used instead of pollute?

The words contaminate and pollute can be used in similar contexts, but contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When is defile a more appropriate choice than pollute?

The words defile and pollute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is it sensible to use taint instead of pollute?

The synonyms taint and pollute are sometimes interchangeable, but taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

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 pollute See, scientists know human drugs pollute aquatic environments – past studies have shown even anti-anxiety drugs can change how fish act. —

Regina G. Barber, NPR, 12 May 2026 Toilet paper, a product that is used for a few seconds before being disposed of forever, is typically made with trees, energy-intensive manufacturing processes and chemicals that can pollute the environment. —

Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026 Engineers and safety experts are solving problems in a new technology that gets us off expensive and polluting fossil fuels. —

Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026 Sunil Bector, an attorney with the Sierra Club, said that heavily polluting facilities will reap overlapping benefits from the assault on the Clean Air Act. —

Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollute

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollute

Verb

An expanding recall linked to powdered milk now includes several popcorn products containing white cheddar seasoning that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
A lot of these products are mislabeled and contaminated.

— Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026

Definition of contaminate

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pollutants

pollute

polluted

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“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollute. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of pollute

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