1
as in barren
not able to produce fruit or offspring
sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children the apple tree turned out to be sterile, never yielding a crop of apples
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sanitary
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health
the hospitals in the war-torn city often lack necessary drugs and sterile surgical supplies
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sterile
Building new sterile fly production facilities in the Southwest helped eradicate the flies in that region too, and by 1966, the US was declared officially screwworm-free.
—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Now, authorities in Texas are releasing sterile flies once more.
—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Today, American labs only have the capacity to drop 100 million sterile flies.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
But the country’s key tool for suppressing the pest — a facility that breeds sterile flies to halt reproduction of the parasite — isn’t slated to begin operating until November 2027.
—
Ilena Peng,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Now, authorities in Texas are releasing sterile flies once more.
—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Today, American labs only have the capacity to drop 100 million sterile flies.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
But the country’s key tool for suppressing the pest — a facility that breeds sterile flies to halt reproduction of the parasite — isn’t slated to begin operating until November 2027.
—
Ilena Peng,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterile
Adjective
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The fires eviscerated many of the plants and trees in and around the burn zones, leaving behind barren lots and charred swaths of parkland.
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There are quite a few interesting options this summer, especially compared to last year’s barren goalie landscape that was headlined by veteran backups.
Adjective
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Here's what our pros recommend for dusting your bedroom to keep it sanitary and easy to breathe in.
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It is treated similar to sanitary waste.
Cite this Entry
“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sterile. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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