POLLUTANT Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

pollutant

noun

pə-ˈlü-tᵊnt

Definition of pollutant

as in contaminant

something that is or that makes impure filtered the pollutants out of the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pollutant This summer has seen record-smashing heatwaves across Europe, huge wildfires from Spain and France to Canada, which have released deadly pollutants into the air, and yet more extreme heat from Africa to Asia. — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 These fun masks foam up on the skin to remove dirt, oil, debris, and other pollutants that can clog your pores. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 Improving raw ore, for instance, involves releasing water that is contaminated with radioactive pollutants, creating health issues for workers and local residents. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Our state has thousands of sites already polluted with toxic chemicals and other pollutants, and those projects affect air quality, safe drinking water and community health for millions of Californians. — Shannon Olivieri Hovis, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollutant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollutant

Noun

As catastrophic as the fires were for those who lost everything, people whose homes remain standing have been exasperated by insurance company refusals to cover the removal of lingering hazardous contaminants.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
That’s in part due to their handling of homes requiring cleaning due to smoke and other contaminants caused by the fires.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of contaminant

Noun

About 15 percent of a subset of the products tested contained measurable levels of endotoxin, a sign of bacterial contamination during manufacture.

— Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
The researchers hope that in the future it will be used to identify counterfeit perfumes, detect pesticide contamination in olive oil, and offer better quality control across agriculture in general.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of contamination

Browse Nearby Words

poll taxes

pollutant

pollutants

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Style

“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollutant. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pollutant

noun

Example Sentences

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