POLLUTE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'pollute' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pollute are contaminate , defile , and taint . While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," pollute , sometimes interchangeable with contaminate , distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy. // the polluted waters of the river

Q: When can 'contaminate' be used instead of 'pollute'?

The words contaminate and pollute can be used in similar contexts, but contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. // water contaminated by industrial wastes

Q: When is 'defile' a more appropriate choice than 'pollute'?

The words defile and pollute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration. // defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Q: When is it sensible to use 'taint' instead of 'pollute'?

The synonyms taint and pollute are sometimes interchangeable, but taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination. // tainted meat // a politician's tainted reputation

pollute

verb

pə-ˈlüt

Definition of pollute next

as in to contaminate

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable outmoded factories polluting the air

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How does the verb pollute contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pollute are contaminate, defile, and taint. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

When can contaminate be used instead of pollute?

The words contaminate and pollute can be used in similar contexts, but contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When is defile a more appropriate choice than pollute?

The words defile and pollute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is it sensible to use taint instead of pollute?

The synonyms taint and pollute are sometimes interchangeable, but taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

Examples 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 pollute This event came days after the United Nations failed to agree on a treaty in Busan, South Korea, limiting plastic waste polluting the planet. —

Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 More than 99% of Americans live under skies polluted by light. —

Lane Sainty, USA TODAY, 24 Nov. 2024 Furthermore, carbon capture extends the operations of the polluting infrastructure and increases our reliance on fossil fuels. —

Nayamin Martinez, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 Commercial gift wraps can include glitter, which contains microplastics that pollute U.S. waters. —

Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pollute

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollute

Verb

Outdoor cats can also be exposed to bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals and by being in environments contaminated with the virus, or by consuming unpasteurized milk from infected cows.

Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Among healthy people, eating food contaminated with salmonella often results in symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, which usually pass within a week.

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024