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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pollution
The air district said conditions can change rapidly, and the amount and location of smoke at ground level are hard to predict, but the public can check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fire and smoke map for real-time pollution levels.
—
Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
Climate change from fossil fuel pollution is amplifying the conditions that make flash floods more likely and more severe.
—Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
Among those who are aware, 58 percent are very concerned about microplastic pollution.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025
Fishing, shipping, pollution, and warming seas all threaten their survival.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
Climate change from fossil fuel pollution is amplifying the conditions that make flash floods more likely and more severe.
—Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
Among those who are aware, 58 percent are very concerned about microplastic pollution.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025
Fishing, shipping, pollution, and warming seas all threaten their survival.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pollution
Noun
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Thus, the finding of arsenic with the genetic material could have simply been contamination.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
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Damaged packaging can increase contamination risk, and even foods that appear safe may pose health hazards.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Check if the customer database can be fully restored within a 24-hour recovery time after simulated data corruption.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Democrats had controlled the White House from 1933 until 1952, when Republican Dwight Eisenhower, a World War II leader who promised to end the Korean War and to uproot corruption in Washington, beat their lackluster presidential candidate, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson.—
Time,
Time,
23 July 2025
Noun
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People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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With a proprietary complex scientifically shown to repair broken bonds, this antioxidant-rich, silicone-free serum protects against heat damage as well as environmental pollutants and free radicals.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pollution. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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