pollute
verb
pol·lute pə-ˈlüt 
polluted; polluting
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
Linda C. Lederman2
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
adjective 
Synonyms
- befoul
- contaminate
- defile
- foul
- poison
- taint
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Miles of beaches were polluted by the oil spill. Car exhaust pollutes the air.
Recent Examples on the Web Opponents, including more than two dozen environmental groups, have asked the Navy to kill the idea, saying another golf course would pollute the Chesapeake Bay at a time when efforts to improve the bay’s water quality are falling short. Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 The lawsuit alleges coal ash, which contains contaminants such as mercury and arsenic, is being moved to unlined ponds which can pollute air and drinking water. Keith Bierygolick, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2022 Fertilizers and chemicals wash off farm fields and pollute our waterways. Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 When doing so without sufficient and efficient scrutiny, bad sellers and their illicit products unavoidably infiltrate the system and pollute the whole ecosystem. Ariel Katz, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Most plastic isn't recycled globally and millions of tons pollute the world's oceans, impact wildlife and turn up in drinking water. Arkansas Online, 4 July 2022 Most plastic isn’t recycled globally and millions of tons pollute the world’s oceans, impact wildlife and turn up in drinking water. Aniruddha Ghosal, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2022 This is an important move from the brand, as chemicals from harsh cleaning products can pollute water, affect the food chain, and negatively impact your indoor air quality. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 June 2022 Reversing a Trump-era rule, the Environmental Protection Agency moved to restore authority to states and tribes to stop energy projects that could pollute local waters. New York Times, 19 June 2022 See More
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 The lawsuit alleges coal ash, which contains contaminants such as mercury and arsenic, is being moved to unlined ponds which can pollute air and drinking water. Keith Bierygolick, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2022 Fertilizers and chemicals wash off farm fields and pollute our waterways. Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 When doing so without sufficient and efficient scrutiny, bad sellers and their illicit products unavoidably infiltrate the system and pollute the whole ecosystem. Ariel Katz, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Most plastic isn't recycled globally and millions of tons pollute the world's oceans, impact wildlife and turn up in drinking water. Arkansas Online, 4 July 2022 Most plastic isn’t recycled globally and millions of tons pollute the world’s oceans, impact wildlife and turn up in drinking water. Aniruddha Ghosal, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2022 This is an important move from the brand, as chemicals from harsh cleaning products can pollute water, affect the food chain, and negatively impact your indoor air quality. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 June 2022 Reversing a Trump-era rule, the Environmental Protection Agency moved to restore authority to states and tribes to stop energy projects that could pollute local waters. New York Times, 19 June 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
pollute
verb
pol·lute pə-ˈlüt
polluted; polluting
: to spoil or make impure especially with waste made by humans
Factories pollute the stream.
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 man-made waste
pollutes
verb
as in contaminates
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable outmoded factories polluting the air Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- contaminates
- poisons
- taints
- infects
- defiles
- befouls
- dirties
- sullies
- soils
- dilutes
- rots
- muddies
- fouls
- blackens
- corrupts
- stains
- grimes
- smudges
- adulterates
- besmirches
- mires
- spoils
- waters down
- fouls up
- begrimes
- smirches
- doctors
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- purifies
- cleans
- cleanses
- clears
- distills
- distils
- clarifies
- decontaminates
- purges
- filters
- disinfects
- sterilizes
- sanitizes