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
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Recent Examples of pollution
In Minnesota, an air quality alert was issued due to fine particle pollution.
—
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The United Nations' highest court on Wednesday ruled that wealthy countries must comply with their commitments to curb fossil fuels and pollution or risk being held financially liable by nations hit the hardest by climate change.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
These public beaches are stinking with dangerous pollution.
—Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
The public was further advised to reduce activities that could worsen air pollution, such as outdoor burning and use of wood-burning devices.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The United Nations' highest court on Wednesday ruled that wealthy countries must comply with their commitments to curb fossil fuels and pollution or risk being held financially liable by nations hit the hardest by climate change.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
These public beaches are stinking with dangerous pollution.
—Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
The public was further advised to reduce activities that could worsen air pollution, such as outdoor burning and use of wood-burning devices.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Thus, the finding of arsenic with the genetic material could have simply been contamination.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
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Damaged packaging can increase contamination risk, and even foods that appear safe may pose health hazards.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Check if the customer database can be fully restored within a 24-hour recovery time after simulated data corruption.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Democrats had controlled the White House from 1933 until 1952, when Republican Dwight Eisenhower, a World War II leader who promised to end the Korean War and to uproot corruption in Washington, beat their lackluster presidential candidate, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson.—
Time,
Time,
23 July 2025
Noun
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People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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With a proprietary complex scientifically shown to repair broken bonds, this antioxidant-rich, silicone-free serum protects against heat damage as well as environmental pollutants and free radicals.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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