Thesaurus results for POLLUTION

pollution

noun

Definition of pollution

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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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 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 pollution The worsening haze has cast a shadow over the city-state, disrupting daily life and threatening businesses as air pollution continues to worsen. — Jenny Lee,zechariah Chan, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Other risks include exposure to radon gas, asbestos, air pollution, radiation and certain metals, according to the American Cancer Society. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Too many local rivers and streams continue to struggle, and too many communities face threats from pollution, flooding, and a changing climate. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The paper gives scientists a new way to look at the effects of plastic pollution, Wagner says. — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollution

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution

Noun

Repairs to a broken water main near Atlanta's Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant are complete, but residents and businesses in the affected area must continue boiling tap water while officials check the system for possible contamination.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Under that time pressure, the team had to carefully handle the precious DNA to prevent the risk of contamination on their descent.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of contamination

Noun

Talarico’s success so far can partly be chalked up to voters’ apprehensions toward Paxton, who faced questions in his past over corruption, including being impeached by his own party in the Texas legislature.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Blagojevich was impeached, removed from office by a unanimous 59-0 Illinois Senate vote and convicted of federal corruption offenses.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

The city said in a statement that the concentration of pollutants averaged 196 micrograms per cubic meter, which is considered an unhealthy level way above the normal range of about 3 to 9.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
If approved, the permit will also require monitoring of the water flow, temperature, present or expected pollutants in the sourcewater, expected pollutants in the wastewater, and additional pollutants associated with steam electric power generation.

— Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of pollutant

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polluting

pollution

pollutions

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“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pollution

noun

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