polluted; polluting
1
a
: to make ceremonially or morally impure : defile
b
: debase sense 1
using language to deceive or mislead pollutes language—
Linda C. Lederman
Linda C. Lederman
polluter
noun
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
So, unlike other synthetic fabrics that shed plastic microparticles, this one doesn’t pollute the environment.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024
First, polluting surface aquifers that provide drinking water for landholders or their animals.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
In the release, McCutchen said Denali has been polluting the River Valley's environment for many years.
—Randal Seyler, arkansasonline.com, 21 Oct. 2024
In recent decades, however, the military has also been polluting the home front, most notably with a toxic chemical never heard of in the era of muskets and drums: PFAS.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollute 
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Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024
First, polluting surface aquifers that provide drinking water for landholders or their animals.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
In the release, McCutchen said Denali has been polluting the River Valley's environment for many years.
—Randal Seyler, arkansasonline.com, 21 Oct. 2024
In recent decades, however, the military has also been polluting the home front, most notably with a toxic chemical never heard of in the era of muskets and drums: PFAS.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollute
Dictionary Entries Near pollute
Cite this Entry
“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollute. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pollute
verb
pol·lute
pə-ˈlüt 
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
polluted; polluting
1
: to make physically impure or unclean
2
: to contaminate (an environment) especially with anthropogenic waste
polluter
noun
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