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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pollution
Fertilizer runoff from lawns is a major source of nutrient pollution in lakes and streams.
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2025
Over in Nepal, authorities also took steps to minimize pollution.
—Cnn, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
Looking at a range of factors — including land and water use, chemical pollution from the factories that produce synthetic absorbents, and contribution to climate change — tampons score better in some categories while pads pull ahead in others.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Entire countries relying on planting trees to absolve their own emissions is arguably worse, given the scale of the pollution involved.
—Mark Gongloff, Boston Herald, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution 
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2025
Over in Nepal, authorities also took steps to minimize pollution.
—Cnn, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
Looking at a range of factors — including land and water use, chemical pollution from the factories that produce synthetic absorbents, and contribution to climate change — tampons score better in some categories while pads pull ahead in others.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Entire countries relying on planting trees to absolve their own emissions is arguably worse, given the scale of the pollution involved.
—Mark Gongloff, Boston Herald, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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This lingering contamination can cause health problems, too.Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2025
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Given that over 12,000 structures have burned in Los Angeles as of Monday morning, the potential of widespread contamination is significant, Kearns warns.Hannah Singleton, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The first is Sweeney Todd — an interesting choice, seeing as Stephen Sondheim’s cannibalistic tale explores themes of political corruption and the destructive forces of free markets.Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
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The committee identified graft and corruption, inefficiencies and waste.Bruce W. Dearstyne / Made by History, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Air pollutants from wildfires are dangerous to the immediate fire zone and surrounding communities, but the harm can reach out farther.Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
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The environmental pollutants that accompany 2025's unprecedented wildfires can cause serious damage to the body's largest organ (and its first line of defense).Kelly Dougher, Allure, 14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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