sanitize

verb

san·i·tize | \ ˈsa-nə-ˌtīz

sanitized; sanitizing

Definition of sanitize

transitive verb

1 : to make sanitary (as by cleaning or sterilizing)

2 : to make more acceptable by removing unpleasant or undesired features attempts to sanitize historical accounts

Other Words from sanitize More Example Sentences Learn More about sanitize

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of sanitize in a Sentence

The housekeeping staff sanitized the bathroom. They're trying to sanitize the news.

Recent Examples on the Web

As malevolent illusions go, the movie’s sanitized emptying-out of childhood and adolescence is of a piece with a general infantilization of imagination through the rigid and narrow superspectacles that superhero movies have become. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Review: “Spider-Man: Far from Home” Presents the Illusion of a Good Movie," 1 July 2019 And yet, to some extent, the setting in Western France and the focus on the U-boat war of course sanitize the story to a certain degree. — Adrian Daub, The New Republic, "Hulu’s Das Boot Gets Lost at Sea," 19 June 2019 Already practicing rigorous biosecurity before the outbreak by requiring visitors to dress in protective gear and sanitize their vehicles before and after visiting their farms, the company hasn’t had any sick birds. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, latimes.com, "To stop a virus, California has euthanized more than 1.2 million birds. Is it reckless or necessary?," 7 June 2019 In an interview with The Washington Post, Kelly denied directing his staff to sanitize its initial disaster reports. — nola.com, "Homeland Security watchdog whitewashed FEMA disaster audits, including for Louisiana," 15 Aug. 2016 Photo: Annie Tritt for The Wall Street Journal Hospitals already zap equipment with ultraviolet light to sanitize it, but the lamps are off-limits to people, because of health hazards. — WSJ, "New Ideas to Fight the Flu," 20 Nov. 2018 Its health benefits range from aromatherapy to sanitizing cuts. — Dean Fosdick, The Seattle Times, "Lavender: The ‘Swiss Army knife’ of fragrant herbs," 26 Mar. 2019 Spritz from a distance of 6-8 inches away and let the fabric remain wet for five minutes to sanitize. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean a Couch Like a Pro," 29 Mar. 2019 One easy method: applying sanitizing foam to the stethoscope’s diaphragm—the part that touches a patient’s skin—after using it on their own hands. — Lucette Lagnado, WSJ, "Hospitals Step Up the War on Superbugs," 8 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sanitize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.