sterilizing
Making completely germ-free
Sterilizing is making something free from living microorganisms, typically through heat, chemicals, or radiation.
Medical instruments, baby bottles, and canning jars are commonly sterilized to prevent contamination or infection.
The term also applies to rendering a person or animal incapable of reproduction, whether through surgery or other means.
In figurative use, sterilizing can mean removing anything vital or distinctive: The edits sterilized the manuscript of its personality.
Eliminating harmful microorganisms
- disinfectingKilling bacteria and viruses
- decontaminatingRemoving harmful agents
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- washingCleaning with liquid
cleansing · rinsing · wiping · soaking · swabbing · flushing · purging · scouring
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
incineration · ultraviolet · steam · boiling · flaming
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
- phenolicsHydroxylated aromatic compounds
chlorine · germicide · bactericide · sporicide · virucide · fungicide · biocide
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- pathogen-freeFree of disease-causing microorganisms
germ-free · uncontaminated · pristine · sanitized · aseptic · bactericidal
Particle-free manufacturing space
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
- brewingBeverage preparation process
canning · dairy · veterinary
sanitizing
Eliminating harmful microorganisms
- disinfectingKilling bacteria and viruses
- decontaminatingRemoving harmful agents
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
washing · cleansing · rinsing · wiping · soaking · swabbing · flushing · purging · scouring · immersing
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
filtration · incineration · ultraviolet · steam · boiling · flaming
disinfectant
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
phenolics · chlorine · germicide · bactericide · sporicide · virucide · fungicide · biocide
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
sutures · speculum · curette · retractor · drapes · gowning · gloving
asepsis
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
pathogen-free · germ-free · uncontaminated · pristine · sanitized · aseptic · bactericidal
cleanroom
Particle-free manufacturing space
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
brewing · canning · dairy · veterinary
- cleaningcleaning, clean, housekeeping, clean up, daily cleaning
- cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, clean up, dirty, neatness
- hygienehygiene, handwashing, toothbrush, hand washing, sanitizer
- food processingcanning, freezing, drying, packaging, pasteurization
- sanitizingsanitizing, disinfecting, hand sanitizing, antibacterial wash, decontaminating
- treatingmedicating, bandaging, healing, curing, nursing
sterilizingdirtying
Making unclean
soiling · fouling · befouling · sullying · mucking up
sterilizingfertilizing
Adding nutrients to soil
impregnating · inseminating · breeding · conceiving · procreating
sterile, sterilize, sterilized, sterility, sterilization, sterilizer, sterilizes, sterilise, sterilised