pollute
verb (used with object)
to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty.
polluting
-
present participleof pollute.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The drive to power AI has resulted in sprawling, polluting, noisy, thirsty complexes reminiscent of the industrial revolution, WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
That makes them extremely difficult to extinguish and exceptionally polluting.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
Environmentalists offered a different perspective, pointing out that flying remains the most polluting form of transport.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
While less polluting than coal, gas plants are still significant sources of planet-warming emissions, and their operations, particularly upstream, also leak methane, the main component of natural gas and itself a powerful greenhouse gas.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
“It’s so peaceful here. This is what life is all about. No cell phones, no iPods, no cars driving by polluting our lungs.”
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
