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
Billions hang in the balance, including, to Robertson’s chagrin, more than $100 million for disadvantaged communities, like Sulphur, to combat pollution and better weather the effects of climate change.
—
Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
Exposure to air pollution such as wildfire smoke can also lead to the onset of asthma in otherwise healthy people, Lamb said.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
One of the biggest challenges to global economic prosperity—the impact that droughts, heatwaves, and storms caused by planet-warming pollution are having on supply chains, workforces, and infrastructure—has become one of the biggest economic opportunities.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
So were environmental factors, such as exposure to pollution from burning coal with a high fluoride content.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pollution 
Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
Exposure to air pollution such as wildfire smoke can also lead to the onset of asthma in otherwise healthy people, Lamb said.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
One of the biggest challenges to global economic prosperity—the impact that droughts, heatwaves, and storms caused by planet-warming pollution are having on supply chains, workforces, and infrastructure—has become one of the biggest economic opportunities.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
So were environmental factors, such as exposure to pollution from burning coal with a high fluoride content.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Cucumber recalls Multiple different cucumber products have been recalled over concerns of potential salmonella contamination.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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The fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades consumed not only trees, brush and timber from people’s homes but also lead acid car batteries, plastic pipes, synthetic furniture, paint and untold other potential sources of contamination.—
Jack Healy,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Although Russia has struggled to embrace startup culture, the big contractors have a stranglehold on the supply process; corruption is endemic, and the military know who to buy from.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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Removing and replacing up to 50,000 career civil servants with political loyalists smacks of corruption Americans won’t tolerate.—
Laura Rodriguez,
Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Specifically designed to shield your skin from environmental stressors like pollutants and free radicals—culprits behind premature aging, dullness, and inflammation—this toner does more than refresh.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 Jan. 2025
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Decades of health science have demonstrated that such pollutants damage the health of those who breathe them in regularly.—
Alejandra Borunda,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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