pesticide

as in poison
a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops The family farm has gradually moved away from the use of pesticides.

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Example Sentences

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 pesticide With respect to pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural materials — many of which contain PFAS — the Environmental Improvement Board would consult with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture before setting rules on these subjects. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 27 Mar. 2025 Her research has shown an association between ALS and organic pollutants, particularly pesticides. Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2025 Some had spent decades raising and tagging the butterflies and planting pollinator gardens, especially milkweed, a larvae food source that’s disappearing due to pesticides and agriculture. Chloe Berge, AFAR Media, 14 Mar. 2025 Potential toxins: Research indicates that many protein supplements contain low to significant quantities of toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pesticide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesticide
Noun
  • In addition, these same poisons can damage a cell’s DNA which can allow that cell to grow out of control and cause cancer.
    Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • All about the poison There was a lot that needed to be tied up in that final episode of the HBO series about tourists at various exotic resorts.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Chemical components of pesticides were found in four of the products — inhaling certain pesticides through marijuana smoking poses a risk of harmful toxicants entering the lungs and bloodstream.
    Ben Markus - Colorado Public Radio, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Nonetheless, the researchers also acknowledged that realizing such goals will be complex, as U.S. regulators typically consider risks associated with individual toxicants, rather than the complex mixtures that exist in wastewater.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Avoid toxin exposure: Minimize contact with chemicals like cleaning products, insecticides, and aerosol products.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Magnolia scale insects’ waxy coating protects them when they are directly sprayed with insecticides, which would also kill their natural insect enemies.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Basically by definition, non-organic, conventional foods are exposed to synthetic pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025
  • These are industrial operations dependent on fossil fuels not just as diesel for tractors, but also for large quantities of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
    Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Soggy soil is a breeding ground for destructive pests and diseases.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Millions of Americans depend on our nation's research institutions for treatments and cures to the diseases that devastate families every day.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • More recently, however, the fungicide Azoxystrobin has been shown to be effective at killing the patch funguses such as take all root rot, gray leaf spot, and even brown patch (also called large patch).
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2025
  • If needed, a fungicide may be applied every few months.
    Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Chung also used a powerful MRI scanner to produce images of the octopuses’ brains and internal organs, discovering that the males had larger venom glands than females despite their smaller size.
    Jack Guy, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
  • To take one example, biologists studying the venom of a Gila monster found a hormone that is the basis of the new generation of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.
    Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In Colorado, the process to choose the five priority air toxics included consulting with multiple stakeholders.
    Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
  • What these arguments fail to understand is that DEI protections were put in place for certain groups because of historically discriminatory hiring practices and to course-correct toxic, racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist workplaces.
    Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesticide. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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