pollutes

verb

present tense third-person singular of pollute
as in poisons
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable outmoded factories polluting the air

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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 pollutes The Chenab River runs red with blood while poison pollutes the five rivers of Punjab and spreads through the fertile soil. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 New rules require hundreds of businesses to clean up runoff from large parking lots that pollutes creeks and beaches. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air. — Ed Maibach, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026 Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock. — Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 The debris ultimately enters storm drains and the adjacent river, which pollutes our shoreline and environment. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026 Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms. — Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026 Climate change, industrial pollution, inadequate sanitation that pollutes drinking water sources with human waste — these are all factors in the water crisis. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutes
  1. poisons
  2. contaminates
  3. taints
  4. infects
  5. defiles
Verb
  • Despite her initial disinterest, Kara develops a personal stake when Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), the one who killed Ruthye's parents and brother, poisons her dog Krypto.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Definition of poisons
Verb
  • It’s spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning human poop contaminates food, and once eaten, that food makes people sick.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 20 July 2026
  • The disease is caused by a parasite that contaminates fresh produce and can cause days of watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea.
    — Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
Definition of contaminates
Verb
  • That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of taints
Verb
  • Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
    — Savannah Peters, Fortune, 18 July 2026
  • Cyclospora outbreak spans dozens of states Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestinal tract and can cause prolonged diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of infects
Verb
  • Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.
    — George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Definition of defiles

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polluted
pollutes
polluting
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Cite this Entry

“Pollutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutes. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pollutes

Nglish: Translation of pollutes for Spanish Speakers

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