as in poisons
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
outmoded factories polluting the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
As my colleague Iris Kwok explains, that’s due to the state’s higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 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
For example, forum participants said a person could sue a company or entity that pollutes a river because the river has the right to be pollution-free.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
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
As my colleague Iris Kwok explains, that’s due to the state’s higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 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
For example, forum participants said a person could sue a company or entity that pollutes a river because the river has the right to be pollution-free.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutes
Verb
-
In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
-
The bait poisons the entire colony, including the queen, so no new ants can be produced.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
While water salinity isn't a major issue in most regulated urban water systems, Gupta said the concern mainly applies in coastal and low-lying regions where saltwater intrusion contaminates groundwater, increasing sodium concentrations in drinking water.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
-
The practice contaminates the legal supply chain, threatens public health, and erases tax liability, industry insiders and officials say.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
-
While at Johns Hopkins, Roizman and two colleagues discovered the respiratory syncytial virus, which infects lungs and the respiratory tract.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
While the Andes hantavirus infects a few dozen people every year in the Patagonian region of Argentina further north, it has never been detected in Ushuaia or the wider archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Pollutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutes. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
