pesticide

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 pesticide Commercial flower farming has also been linked to other environmental problems, such as toxic pesticides and extensive water use. Selena Ross, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, all but the last traces of wild northern bald ibises, in North Africa and the Middle East, were vanishing, too, as a result of hunting, habitat loss, pesticides, and electrocution. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 Motor oil, batteries, pool chemicals and pesticides fall under the category. Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025 But for consumers who do choose to partake, there's another layer of concern: Traces of other harmful substances like pesticides, molds and heavy metals might be lurking in a tasty-looking edible or nicely packaged vape. Brian Mann, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
  • Some were stoppers, the design concealing small vials of a particularly deadly poison.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Daughter-in-Law of Baker Whose Christmas Cake Killed 3 Arrested on Murder Charges: Reports Police chief Cléber dos Santos Lima told reporters that Dos Anjos researched and purchased the deadly poison four separate times, per the BBC.
    Christine Pelisek, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Now, time-sensitive measures like spraying homes with insecticide, which is usually slated to begin before the rainy seasons, have been knocked off course.
    Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2025
  • In the meantime, Middleton recommends that insecticides — typically neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid or dinotefuran — be applied to susceptible palm trees every three to four months.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • So far this year, more than a dozen pieces of legislation have been filed that deal with herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals, including those found in cleaning supplies and household products.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2025
  • If aeration is on your to-do list, do it before applying pre-emergents to avoid disrupting the herbicide barrier.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects 1% of the population.1 People with celiac used to die from their condition before the gluten-free diet diet was discovered.2 Gluten intolerance is more common, affecting up to 13% of the population.
    Sarah Bence, Health, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Otherwise, use of a fungicide labeled for rust control on ornamentals would be helpful.
    Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Brown patch a disease is causes yellow areas in many lawns; apply a fungicide as needed.
    Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Youngsters release less venom but their poison can be more potent, according to Taylor.
    Tanasia Kenney, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Some fans will likely direct venom toward Beal, accusing him of putting his own wishes ahead of the team’s.
    Doug Haller, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • This strategy has amplified his visibility but has also drawn criticism for aligning with internet personalities accused of toxic and, for some, abusive behaviors.
    Kia Turner, refinery29.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pesticide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!