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
In June, a bare majority blocked enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to reduce smog-forming pollution that drifts across state lines while those regulations are being challenged by industries and polluting states as overburdensome.
—Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
The nitrate polluting his well water links him directly to the other end of the river, and the dead zone that blooms there every summer.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024
The city is seeking to require that these companies pay for cleaning up the plastic litter that pollutes city streets and waterways.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2024
Construction crews working on busy city streets use the machines to avoid annoying the neighbors or polluting their air.
—Nicolás Rivero, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollute 
Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
The nitrate polluting his well water links him directly to the other end of the river, and the dead zone that blooms there every summer.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024
The city is seeking to require that these companies pay for cleaning up the plastic litter that pollutes city streets and waterways.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2024
Construction crews working on busy city streets use the machines to avoid annoying the neighbors or polluting their air.
—Nicolás Rivero, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollute
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pollute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pollute
Cite this Entry
“Pollute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollute. Accessed 15 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share