1
as in contamination
the action or process of making the environment dirty or harmful
The company designed devices to reduce the pollution of the world's oceans.
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2
as in corruption
something that makes (someone) less pure, honest, or moral
They refused to let their children play violent video games, believing that they caused pollution in a developing mind.
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pollution
Detroit continues to see disproportionate impacts of air pollution due to industry and transportation, per Planet Detroit.
—
Joe Guillen, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Authorities recommend that residents limit activities that contribute to air pollution, such as burning wood or unnecessary vehicle use, to mitigate worsening conditions.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
The reward, with any luck, is a world with not as much deadly air pollution from fossil fuels — and not as many devastating fires, heat waves and storms.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
The majority of the settlement, about $700 million, was designated for providing safe drinking water to residents in east metro communities affected by PFAS pollution, including building new treatment plants and connecting homes with private wells to municipal drinking water systems.
—Kirsti Marohn, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pollution 
Joe Guillen, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Authorities recommend that residents limit activities that contribute to air pollution, such as burning wood or unnecessary vehicle use, to mitigate worsening conditions.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
The reward, with any luck, is a world with not as much deadly air pollution from fossil fuels — and not as many devastating fires, heat waves and storms.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
The majority of the settlement, about $700 million, was designated for providing safe drinking water to residents in east metro communities affected by PFAS pollution, including building new treatment plants and connecting homes with private wells to municipal drinking water systems.
—Kirsti Marohn, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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The fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades consumed not only trees, brush and timber from people’s homes but also lead acid car batteries, plastic pipes, synthetic furniture, paint and untold other potential sources of contamination.—
Jack Healy,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Cucumber recalls Multiple different cucumber products have been recalled over concerns of potential salmonella contamination.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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What are the accusations against USAID? Over the weekend and into Monday, Musk fired off a series of posts on X that accused the agency of corruption.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
6 Feb. 2025
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First created among the post-Watergate government reforms aimed at increasing oversight and decreasing corruption and inefficiencies in federal departments, the Office of Inspector General began in 1976 after an act of Congress was passed.—
Southern California News Group Editorial Board,
Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Specifically designed to shield your skin from environmental stressors like pollutants and free radicals—culprits behind premature aging, dullness, and inflammation—this toner does more than refresh.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 Jan. 2025
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Decades of health science have demonstrated that such pollutants damage the health of those who breathe them in regularly.—
Alejandra Borunda,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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