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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Recent Examples of pollution
The White House on Tuesday announced an additional $3 billion in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with U.S. ports.
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The Hill, 29 Oct. 2024
Utahns saw air pollution and smog as a more pressing problem than in any other Western state, per a Conservation in the West survey released in February.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
To Shapiro, who has spoken with The Republic previously about how air pollution from burning fossil fuels threatens the respiratory health of Arizona's children and seniors especially, that is nowhere near enough.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Her thesis and accompanying work investigated military pollution at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and the resulting public health consequences.
—Condé Nast, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution 
The Hill, 29 Oct. 2024
Utahns saw air pollution and smog as a more pressing problem than in any other Western state, per a Conservation in the West survey released in February.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
To Shapiro, who has spoken with The Republic previously about how air pollution from burning fossil fuels threatens the respiratory health of Arizona's children and seniors especially, that is nowhere near enough.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Her thesis and accompanying work investigated military pollution at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and the resulting public health consequences.
—Condé Nast, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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The Food and Drug Administration has also said the slivered onions, supplied by food producer Taylor Farms Colorado Springs, are the most likely source of contamination.Erika Edwards, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024
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That plant was cited by the FDA last September for failing to properly investigate bacterial contamination.Madison Muller, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Topline Investigators specializing in financial crime and corruption raided the Paris office of streaming giant Netflix Tuesday morning, multiple outlets reported, as a simultaneous search took place at the company’s EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam.Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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That ban, which dated to the 1800s, was designed to reduce bribery and corruption during elections, Reuters reported.Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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These gases contain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and unburned fuel, that are harmful to human health, as well as carbon dioxide, which warms Earth’s atmosphere.Michael Leamy, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
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The main concerns about sardines are mercury poisoning, heavy metal contamination, environmental impacts, and BPA. Mercury poisoning: Mercury is a damaging pollutant found in fish, including sardines.Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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