sterile
Unable to reproduce
Sterile means free from living microorganisms—surgical instruments must be sterile to prevent infection.
The word extends to anything incapable of producing life: a sterile person cannot have children, sterile soil won't support growth.
Figuratively, sterile describes things lacking vitality or creativity: a sterile debate, sterile corporate prose.
A sterile environment feels cold and antiseptic.
Unable to produce
- childlessLacking any offspring
- infertilityInability to reproduce
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
impotent · neutered · spayed · seedless · childlessness · unfertile · nonbreeding · vasectomized
Cleansed of contaminants
- disinfectedFreed from harmful microorganisms
- decontaminatedRemoved harmful substances from
- purifiedCleared of unwanted substances
- pasteurizedHeat-treated for safety
fumigated · irradiated · autoclaved · ultraclean · uncontaminated · germ-free · hygienic · sanitary
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- surgicalRelating to operations
- operatingActively in function
- scalpelPrecise surgical knife
- forcepsMedical grasping instrument
gauze · syringe · scrubs · hospital · clinic · pathogen-free · bacteriostatic · germ-free
Bleak and abandoned
- aridDevoid of water
- wastelandUninhabitable barren region
- lifelessDevoid of animation
- inhospitableUnwelcoming, harsh to visitors
parched · bleak · empty · stark · gaunt · desiccated · moonscape · treeless
Completely free of marks
- immaculateCompletely without blemish
- pristinePure and untouched
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- gleamingReflecting light brightly
sparkling · untainted · pure · polished · spick-and-span · squeaky-clean · fresh · neat
Lacking edge or interest
- unimaginativeLacking creative originality
- vapidDull, without depth
- banalUnoriginal and dull
- staleNo longer fresh
lifeless · bland · soulless · formulaic · derivative · clinical · cold · impersonal
barren
Unable to produce
- childlessLacking any offspring
- infertilityInability to reproduce
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
fruitless · impotent · neutered · spayed · seedless · childlessness · unfertile · nonbreeding · vasectomized · reproductive
sanitized
Cleansed of contaminants
- disinfectedFreed from harmful microorganisms
- decontaminatedRemoved harmful substances from
- purifiedCleared of unwanted substances
pasteurized · fumigated · irradiated · autoclaved · ultraclean · uncontaminated · germ-free · hygienic · sanitary · scrubbed
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
forceps · gauze · syringe · scrubs · hospital · clinic · pathogen-free · bacteriostatic · germ-free · gloves
desolate
Bleak and abandoned
inhospitable · parched · bleak · empty · stark · gaunt · desiccated · moonscape · treeless · dead
spotless
Completely free of marks
- immaculateCompletely without blemish
- pristinePure and untouched
- unblemishedFree from any defect
gleaming · sparkling · untainted · pure · polished · spick-and-span · squeaky-clean · fresh · neat · tidy
dull
Lacking edge or interest
- unimaginativeLacking creative originality
- vapidDull, without depth
- banalUnoriginal and dull
stale · lifeless · bland · soulless · formulaic · derivative · clinical · cold · impersonal · characterless
- lab biologycell culture, petri dish, test tube, pipette, PCR
- medical adjectivessurgical, cardiac, orthopedic, malignant, respiratory
- puritypure, purity, pristine, spotless, spotlessness
- scientific adjectivesalkaline, ionic, aquatic, inorganic, metallic
- sterile/germ-freesanitized, disinfected, uncontaminated, pathogen-free, germ-free
- sterilegerm-free, sanitized, disinfected, decontaminated, autoclaved
sterilecontaminated
Made impure by contact
septic · infected · unsterile · nonsterile · dirty
sterilecreative
Producing original ideas
imaginative · original · inventive · fertile · productive
- surgical sterilizationOperation to prevent conception
- sterile environmentSpace without living microorganisms
- forced sterilizationInvoluntary surgical infertility
- sterile fieldUncontaminated surgical workspace
- sterile glovesPathogen-free hand barriers
- sterile wipesGerm-free disposable cleaning cloths
sterilize, sterilized, sterility, sterilizing, sterilization, sterilizer, sterilizes, unsterile, sterilizers