sterilize
Make completely clean
Sterilize means to make something free from living microorganisms, typically through heat, chemicals, or radiation.
Medical instruments are sterilized to prevent infection; jars are sterilized before canning.
The word extends to making a person or animal incapable of reproduction, whether through surgery or other means.
Figuratively, to sterilize something is to remove anything that might be considered objectionable or dangerous: The committee sterilized the report before releasing it to the public.
Cleanse of pathogens
- autoclavePressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pasteurizeHeat-treat for safety
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
bactericide · bleach · hydrogen peroxide · chlorine · disinfectant · ethanol · alcohol wipes · biocide
Remove dirt or sin
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- cleanFree of soil
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
- sanitizeCleanse of pathogens
scrub · wash · rinse · spotless · immaculate · pristine · uncontaminated · filtered
Cleanse of pathogens
- bowdlerizeRemove objectionable content
- expurgateRemove offensive material
- redactConceal text for secrecy
- censorOne who suppresses content
cleanse · purge · whitewash · scrub · remove · edit out · suppress · neutralize
Free from pathogens
- autoclavePressurized steam sterilization chamber
- scrubClean by rubbing hard
- gownLong formal garment
- drapesHanging window coverings
operating theater · betadine · laminar flow · preoperative · scalpel · forceps · suture · anesthesia
Sterilize a female animal
- castrateRemove male gonads surgically
- desexSurgically render infertile
- fixRepair or solution
- alterMake a modification
geld · vasectomy · ovariectomy · orchidectomy · neutering · caponize · reproductive · fertility control
Unable to produce offspring
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- barrennessInability to bear fruit
- lifelessDevoid of animation
- desolateBleak and abandoned
fruitless · inhospitable · depleted · fallow · blighted · dead zone · irradiated
sanitize
Cleanse of pathogens
- autoclavePressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pasteurizeHeat-treat for safety
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
germicide · bactericide · bleach · hydrogen peroxide · chlorine · disinfectant · ethanol · alcohol wipes · biocide · UV light
cleanse
Remove dirt or sin
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- cleanFree of soil
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
sanitize · scrub · wash · rinse · spotless · immaculate · pristine · uncontaminated · filtered · distilled
sanitize
Cleanse of pathogens
- bowdlerizeRemove objectionable content
- expurgateRemove offensive material
- redactConceal text for secrecy
censor · cleanse · purge · whitewash · scrub · remove · edit out · suppress · neutralize · defang
aseptic
Free from pathogens
drapes · operating theater · betadine · laminar flow · preoperative · scalpel · forceps · suture · anesthesia
spay
Sterilize a female animal
alter · geld · vasectomy · ovariectomy · orchidectomy · neutering · caponize · reproductive · fertility control · veterinary
infertile
Unable to produce offspring
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- barrennessInability to bear fruit
- lifelessDevoid of animation
desolate · fruitless · inhospitable · depleted · fallow · blighted · dead zone · irradiated
- cleaningcleaning, clean, housekeeping, clean up, daily cleaning
- cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, clean up, dirty, neatness
- hygienehygiene, handwashing, toothbrush, hand washing, sanitizer
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- preservationpreserve, preservatives, preservative, canning, freezing
- lab verbsanalyze, boil, calibrate, centrifuge, condense
sterilizefertilize
Add nutrients to soil
impregnate · inseminate · breed · conceive
- surgical sterilizationOperation to prevent conception
- forced sterilizationInvoluntary surgical infertility
- sterilized cottonDisinfected fiber for wounds
- bottle sterilizerDevice disinfecting infant containers
sterilized, sterility, sterilizing, sterilization, sterilizer, sterilizes, sterilise, sterilised, sterilizers