denature
verb
de·na·ture
(ˌ)dē-ˈnā-chər 
denatured; denaturing
(ˌ)dē-ˈnā-ch(ə-)riŋ
1
2
: to deprive of natural qualities : change the nature of: such as
a
: to make (alcohol) unfit for drinking (as by adding an obnoxious substance) without impairing usefulness for other purposes
b
: to modify the molecular structure of (something, such as a protein or DNA) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so as to destroy or diminish some of the original properties and especially the specific biological activity
: to become denatured
Examples of denature in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Making light of violence against women is part of her act, castrating its power, denaturing the sting.
—
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 June 2024
Wine can be cleaned using shampoo and denatured alcohol.
—Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Whey proteins tend to denature a bit during pasteurization.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 July 2023
The real guesswork concerns the narrator’s relationship to his homeland, a place all but denatured by his benumbed observations.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for denature 
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 June 2024
Wine can be cleaned using shampoo and denatured alcohol.
—Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Whey proteins tend to denature a bit during pasteurization.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 July 2023
The real guesswork concerns the narrator’s relationship to his homeland, a place all but denatured by his benumbed observations.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for denature
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'denature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near denature
Cite this Entry
“Denature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denature. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
denature
verb
de·na·ture
(ˈ)dē-ˈnā-chər
denatured; denaturing
-ˈnāch-(ə-)riŋ
: to remove the natural qualities of: as
a
: to make (alcohol) unfit for drinking without taking away usefulness for other purposes
b
: to change the structure of (as a protein) so that the original properties are removed or diminished
Medical Definition
denature
verb
de·na·ture
(ˈ)dē-ˈnā-chər
denatured; denaturing
-ˈnāch-(ə-)riŋ
: to deprive of natural qualities: as
a
: to make (alcohol) unfit for drinking (as by adding an obnoxious substance) without impairing usefulness for other purposes
b
: to modify the molecular structure of (as a protein or DNA) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so as to destroy or diminish some of the original properties and especially the specific biological activity
: to become denatured
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