pollute

verb

pol·​lute pə-ˈlüt How to pronounce pollute (audio)
polluted; polluting
Synonyms of pollutenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to make ceremonially or morally impure : defile
b
: debase sense 1
using language to deceive or mislead pollutes language— Linda C. Lederman
2
a
: to make physically impure or unclean : befoul, dirty
b
: to contaminate (an environment) especially with man-made waste
polluter noun
pollutive
pə-ˈlü-tiv How to pronounce pollute (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for pollute

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean.

contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat
a politician's tainted reputation

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

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

Examples of pollute in a Sentence

Miles of beaches were polluted by the oil spill. Car exhaust pollutes the air.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The legislation came in response to a 2023 scientific report that warned existing programs to curb urban and farm runoff polluting the Bay and its rivers were falling short. — Timothy Wheeler, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2025 The second Trump administration is again promoting polluting power sources while pulling back support for renewable energy development. — Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025 Related article Court rules this major oil company can continue to pollute BP now aims to grow oil and gas production. — Reuters, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025 The dresser is GreenGuard approved, meaning it’s been screened for more than 10,000 chemicals known to pollute indoor air. — Christopher Murray, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pollute

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin pollutus, past participle of polluere, from por- (akin to Latin per through) + -luere (akin to Latin lutum mud, Greek lyma dirt, defilement) — more at for

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollute was in the 14th century

Rhymes for pollute

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Browse Nearby Words

pollute
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Cite this Entry

“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollute. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

pollute

verb
pol·​lute pə-ˈlüt How to pronounce pollute (audio)
polluted; polluting
: to make impure
especially : to spoil (as a natural resource) with waste made by humans
industrial wastes polluted the river

Medical Definition

pollute

transitive verb
pol·​lute pə-ˈlüt How to pronounce pollute (audio)
polluted; polluting
1
: to make physically impure or unclean
2
: to contaminate (an environment) especially with anthropogenic waste
polluter noun
pollutive
-ˈlüt-iv How to pronounce pollute (audio)
adjective

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