sterile

adjective

ster·ile | \ ˈster-əl

, chiefly British -ˌī(-ə)l\

Definition of sterile

1a : failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores

b : failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring a sterile hybrid

c : incapable of germinating sterile spores

d of a flower : neither perfect nor pistillate

2a : unproductive of vegetation a sterile arid region

b : free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms a sterile syringe

c : lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless a sterile work of art

Other Words from sterile Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about sterile

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Other Words from sterile

sterilely \ ˈster-ə(l)-lē

, chiefly British -ˌī(-ə)(l)-lē \ adverb

sterility \ stə-ˈri-lə-tē

\ noun

Examples of sterile in a Sentence

a sterile dressing for a wound sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children

Recent Examples on the Web

High-concept, high-craft Plenty more happens in The Guilty, all from this sterile-looking call center: Asger tries coordinating police chases to snag suspect vehicles. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "The Guilty review: Even in 2018, a simple phone can be utterly thrilling," 21 Oct. 2018 Comparisons to Alex Garland’s Ex Machina are inevitable: both feature predatory men holding women hostage in hermetic, high-tech, gorgeously sterile homes, with other women standing by as implacable assistants. — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "Elizabeth Harvest is a high-tech, twist-packed take on the Bluebeard myth," 17 Mar. 2018 Generally much larger than either parent, these usually sterile animals are among some of the biggest in the world, weighing over 1,000 pounds and sometimes measuring 12 feet long. — Olivia Putnal, Woman's Day, "10 Unusual Animal Hybrids," 21 Sep. 2010 The sterile neutrinos can, however, participate in flavor oscillations. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Weird neutrino excess won’t go away, hints at new physics," 8 June 2018 The team suggested that the μ antineutrinos could be morphing into sterile neutrinos, which in turn morphed into electron antineutrinos. — Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, "Reports of sterile neutrino’s resurrection may be greatly exaggerated," 4 June 2018 His office was tidy to the point of seeming sterile. — Annie Correal, New York Times, "What Drove a Man to Set Himself on Fire in Brooklyn?," 28 May 2018 The animal is 25 to 30 percent heavier than your typical Mongolian cattle, and while these beasts of burden are sterile, their meat is considered far superior to that of either of their parents. — Olivia Putnal, Woman's Day, "10 Unusual Animal Hybrids," 21 Sep. 2010

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