decontaminating
Cleansing of pollutants
Decontaminating is removing harmful substances—radioactive material, chemical agents, biological hazards, or other pollutants—from a person, object, or area.
The term appears most often in military, medical, and environmental contexts: Workers spent weeks decontaminating the site after the spill.
The process typically involves specialized procedures and equipment.
Destroying all microorganisms
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- bactericideSubstance killing harmful microbes
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
chlorination · pasteurization · irradiation · autoclaving · biocide · virucide · fungicide · aseptic
Cleaning by rubbing hard
- washingCleaning with liquid
- rinsingClearing with water
- wipingRubbing to clean
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
cleansing · mopping · hosing · flushing · swabbing · scouring · pressure-washing · soaking
Separating solids from liquids
- neutralizingMaking something ineffective
- detoxifyingEliminating toxic substances
- deionizingRemoving charged particles
- desalinatingRemoving salt from water
distilling · clarifying · refining · deodorizing · depolluting · chelation · absorption · adsorption
Restoration of order
- restorationReturning something to condition
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
groundwater · hazmat · abatement · mitigation · containment · excavation · disposal · monitoring
sterilizing
Destroying all microorganisms
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- bactericideSubstance killing harmful microbes
fumigation · chlorination · pasteurization · irradiation · autoclaving · biocide · virucide · fungicide · aseptic · hygienic
scrubbing
Cleaning by rubbing hard
sponging · cleansing · mopping · hosing · flushing · swabbing · scouring · pressure-washing · soaking · detergent
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- neutralizingMaking something ineffective
- detoxifyingEliminating toxic substances
- deionizingRemoving charged particles
desalinating · distilling · clarifying · refining · deodorizing · depolluting · chelation · absorption · adsorption · sequestering
cleanup
Restoration of order
- restorationReturning something to condition
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
bioremediation · groundwater · hazmat · abatement · mitigation · containment · excavation · disposal · monitoring · assessment
- sanitizingsanitizing, sterilizing, hand sanitizing, antibacterial wash, bleaching
- hosing downrinsing, spraying, drenching, dousing, flushing
decontaminatingcontaminating
Making something impure
infecting · irradiating · toxifying · exposing · endangering