pollute
Make water unsafe
To pollute is to contaminate something—usually air, water, or soil—with harmful substances: Factories polluted the river for decades.
The meaning extends to corrupting something pure or wholesome: Violence pollutes young minds.
Pollution is the noun, pollutant the contaminating substance.
Light pollution and noise pollution apply the concept beyond chemical contamination.
Make impure
- defileTo violate sanctity
- sullyDamage one's standing
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
spoil · adulterate · contaminate · foul · mar · stain · debase · degrade
Dishonest, open to bribes
poison · subvert · warp · taint · defile · profane · desecrate · sully
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- exhaustUse up entirely
- smokestacksTall industrial exhaust pipes
particulates · ozone · inversion · visibility · aerosols · soot · fumes · tailpipe
Liquid refuse in drains
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- runoffExcess water drainage
- leachateLiquid filtered through waste
- dumpingDisposing carelessly or abruptly
pesticides · fertilizers · microplastics · pathogens · carcinogens · bioaccumulation · eutrophication · sedimentation
Industrial production facility
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- wastewaterContaminated drainage from buildings
- steelworksIndustrial metal production facility
chemicals · plastics · smokestacks · discharge · plant · mill · smelter · processing
Capable of causing death
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
radioactive · lethal · harmful · dangerous · venomous · pathogenic · cytotoxic · neurotoxic
taint
Make impure
besmirch · spoil · adulterate · contaminate · foul · mar · stain · debase · degrade · vitiate
corrupt
Dishonest, open to bribes
degrade · poison · subvert · warp · taint · defile · profane · desecrate · sully · besmirch
smog
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
smokestacks · particulates · ozone · inversion · visibility · aerosols · soot · fumes · tailpipe · airborne
sewage
Liquid refuse in drains
dumping · pesticides · fertilizers · microplastics · pathogens · carcinogens · bioaccumulation · eutrophication · sedimentation · groundwater
factory
Industrial production facility
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- wastewaterContaminated drainage from buildings
steelworks · chemicals · plastics · smokestacks · discharge · plant · mill · smelter · processing · byproducts
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
mutagenic · radioactive · lethal · harmful · dangerous · venomous · pathogenic · cytotoxic · neurotoxic · teratogenic
- air pollutionToxic atmospheric contamination
- water pollutionHarmful substances in H2O
- noise pollutionHarmful environmental sound
- pollution preventionStopping contaminants at origin
- light pollutionExcessive artificial nighttime brightness
- pollution sourcesOrigins of environmental contamination
pollution, polluted, pollutions, pollutant, polluting, polluter, unpolluted, pollutes, polluters