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
Think of all the noise and air pollution in every city in the U.S. To protect our health and the environment, vote to ban gas blowers in your city.
—
Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2025
Moser said the city’s websites and phone lines currently accept complaints about air pollution only in English, even though many of the people most affected by pollution speak different languages.
—John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Years of underinvestment in treatment plants on both sides along the border have exacerbated pollution, but efforts to improve conditions are underway in both countries.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
In legal filings, the companies argue that air and water pollution are regulated at the federal level and they can't be challenged in state courts.
—John Frank, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2025
Moser said the city’s websites and phone lines currently accept complaints about air pollution only in English, even though many of the people most affected by pollution speak different languages.
—John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Years of underinvestment in treatment plants on both sides along the border have exacerbated pollution, but efforts to improve conditions are underway in both countries.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
In legal filings, the companies argue that air and water pollution are regulated at the federal level and they can't be challenged in state courts.
—John Frank, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Testing revealed potential contamination with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, commonly known as bird flu.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Undeclared allergens accounted for the most food recalls, followed by Listeria and Salmonella contamination.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Health,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The unaccountable bureaucracy and bloated government that find a home there, and the public and private corruption that go along with them, face serious scrutiny and genuine antagonism for the first time in a while.—
Jack Butler,
National Review,
2 Mar. 2025
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Countries with weak economic growth, high inflation, widespread corruption, and fragile institutions face the greatest risk.—
Aldo Flores-Quiroga,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Republicans have voted to repeal a fee on methane emissions by oil and gas companies, which will almost certainly result in more releases of a powerful climate pollutant.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2025
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The tests so far do not conclusively show the landfill as the pollutants’ source, according to analysis of the results.—
Doug Thompson,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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