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
No matter the political complications, countries continued to deploy clean energy at a rapid clip this year driven by economics (renewables are often cheaper than fossil fuels) and energy-security concerns (producing clean electricity at home means less reliance on polluting imports).
—Justin Worland, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
In addition to running the risk of not having enough clean water to operate, companies that pollute water risk fines, penalties, clean-up costs, and reputational damage.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The pair of reports show how much work remains for companies to meet their ambitious pledges to cut the plastic waste that is clogging landfills, polluting waterways and oceans, and threatening human health.
—Jeff Young, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Forty percent of western watersheds in the U.S. have been polluted by mining, and contemporary metal mining is the largest single source of toxic pollution in the country.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollute 
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Justin Worland, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
In addition to running the risk of not having enough clean water to operate, companies that pollute water risk fines, penalties, clean-up costs, and reputational damage.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The pair of reports show how much work remains for companies to meet their ambitious pledges to cut the plastic waste that is clogging landfills, polluting waterways and oceans, and threatening human health.
—Jeff Young, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Forty percent of western watersheds in the U.S. have been polluted by mining, and contemporary metal mining is the largest single source of toxic pollution in the country.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 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 18 Jan. 2025.
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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