POLLUTING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

polluting

verb

Definition of polluting

present participle of pollute

as in poisoning

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable outmoded factories polluting the air

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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.

Recent Examples of polluting This novel legal approach, likened to a polluting factory, argues that AI chatbots cause mental harm, provide uncertified advice, and undermine public health and safety. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 This large mass will translate into higher quantities of polluting propellant needed to loft these systems off Earth and a much larger amount of metals vaporizing in Earth's atmosphere during reentry. — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Citizen suits, for example, have extracted millions from heavily polluting oil and gas operations, and ensured that lead pipes in Flint, Michigan, would be removed after its water crisis. — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 Additional pressure on the grid, such as from extreme temperatures, could make margins even thinner and force the use of higher-polluting backup plants. — Alex Music, IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2026 To quickly get the facilities online, the company brought in heavily polluting gas turbines that residents complain is making the air hard to breathe. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026 Apart from polluting ecosystems and leaving toxic residues on human food sources, these aggressive chemicals drive pests to develop genetic resistance, rendering treatments ineffective over time. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Use Pretreatments in Water Sunflowers are known for polluting water when excessive debris oozes from their stems. — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2026 Thick clouds of coal smoke poured from chimneys and factories, polluting the air. — Wuft News, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for polluting

Verb

See affected product Symptoms of salmonella poisoning Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
The burning of fossil fuels is poisoning the air our kids breathe and endangering their present and future by overheating our planet.

— Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of poisoning

Verb

Tiny pieces may begin to fall off, contaminating your food, while those with a crack in them can foster bacteria growth.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Even the regular, gluten pizzas are tossed with rice flour, to avoid wheat flour contaminating the surfaces in the kitchen.

— Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of contaminating

Verb

For all intents and purposes, an unknown actor can wade unburdened into the depths of Bond, able to transform without a viewer’s prior expectation tainting the image of 007.

— Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
District Court Judge Tony Graf ordered measures to prevent the comments by Utah County prosecutor Christopher Ballard from tainting potential jurors should the case go to trial.

— Reuters, NBC news, 26 June 2026

Definition of tainting

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pollutes

polluting

pollution

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“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polluting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of polluting

verb

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