as in poison
a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops
The family farm has gradually moved away from the use of pesticides.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pesticide
Traditional growing methods often rely on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and energy-intensive setups.
—
Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025
Some of the competitors begin to question whether, to mix animal metaphors, the Burmese Python has been a scapegoat for local government and industry, a cover for practices that include dumping pesticides and other harmful substances into those swamps.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
They can be found in solvents, refrigerants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals and are used as flame retardants and fire extinguishants.
—New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025
The study says that the use of pesticides (especially insecticides), habitat loss through land development and climate change are all contributing to the loss of butterflies, as the insects' breeding patterns and food sources are disrupted.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025
Some of the competitors begin to question whether, to mix animal metaphors, the Burmese Python has been a scapegoat for local government and industry, a cover for practices that include dumping pesticides and other harmful substances into those swamps.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
They can be found in solvents, refrigerants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals and are used as flame retardants and fire extinguishants.
—New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025
The study says that the use of pesticides (especially insecticides), habitat loss through land development and climate change are all contributing to the loss of butterflies, as the insects' breeding patterns and food sources are disrupted.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
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As for entertainment, pick your poison: live music, board games, or something off its bookshelf.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
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In September 2024, the California legislature passed the Poison-Free Wildlife Act, which bans some rat poisons.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Chemical components of pesticides were found in four of the products — inhaling certain pesticides through marijuana smoking poses a risk of harmful toxicants entering the lungs and bloodstream.—
Ben Markus - Colorado Public Radio,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2025
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Nonetheless, the researchers also acknowledged that realizing such goals will be complex, as U.S. regulators typically consider risks associated with individual toxicants, rather than the complex mixtures that exist in wastewater.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Racey said the contamination source could be insecticides, chemicals from fracking fluid or firefighting foam, but not the granulate fertilizer.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2025
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These techniques work better than insecticide sprays and leave no residual toxicity.—
Barbara Robertson,
The Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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All of the cookie samples were also positive for high levels of glyphosate, an herbicide typically used to kill weeds, the groups said.—
Mike Snider,
USA TODAY,
13 Mar. 2025
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Monsanto is the maker of Roundup, a popular herbicide used by homeowners and farmers alike.—
Holly Yan,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This ultimately translates into more people that will get infected with these diseases, with the potential of spreading it to all Americans, including White Americans in urban neighborhoods.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Five to 10 percent of people with ALS have a family member with the disease.—
Shayla Love,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Nettle extract, made by composting nettle leaves and brewing them as a tea, has been used as an insecticide, fungicide, and miticide.—
Joshua Siskin,
Orange County Register,
14 Mar. 2025
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But those perfect plants don’t grow that way without assistance; they are sprayed routinely with fungicides and insecticides, especially organophosphates, which kill insects by interfering with their nervous systems.—
Maryn McKenna,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Its identity can help ensure correct venom is prescribed.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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They are known as some of the most dangerous animals in the sea due to their extremely powerful venom, and several people in Australia have died after being bitten by one, according to the Australian Museum.—
Jack Guy,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In Colorado, the process to choose the five priority air toxics included consulting with multiple stakeholders.—
Jenni Shearston,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
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What these arguments fail to understand is that DEI protections were put in place for certain groups because of historically discriminatory hiring practices and to course-correct toxic, racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist workplaces.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
refinery29.com,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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