antibiotic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of antibioticnext
as in drug
medical a substance that is used to kill harmful bacteria and to cure infections

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antibiotic

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in biocidal

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in antibacterial

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of antibiotic
Noun
The national stockpile of antibiotics is rationed among local distribution centers. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026 Participants were first given a short course of antibiotics to reduce existing gut bacteria. — Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 24 July 2026
Adjective
This has been seen when bacteria are trying to survive antibiotic treatments. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026 The letter states the agency is prioritizing research on patient safety, antibiotic resistance, AI, long Covid, nutrition, and understanding autism, among others. — Anil Oza, STAT, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for antibiotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antibiotic
  1. drug
  2. biocidal
  3. antibacterial
  4. medicine
  5. destructive
  6. germicidal
  7. medication
  8. devastating
Noun
  • That includes drug dealing, drug use, any type of violence and then holding people accountable in the criminal justice system, not just releasing people.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Combs is participating in a drug-abuse rehabilitation program at FCI Fort Dix, while his legal team continues to appeal his conviction and sentence, calling the punishment excessive and seeking acquittal or resentencing.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of drug
Adjective
  • Developed in partnership with British company Indestructible Paint, the coating consists of that firm's conventional clear gloss resin along with a 2% concentration of a broad-spectrum biocidal agent known as chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX).
    — Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Schuerger’s team is also expanding their tests to see how organisms respond to additional biocidal factors.
    — National Geographic, National Geographic, 25 Sep. 2016
Definition of biocidal
Adjective
  • Manuka honey is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
    — Jenna Belhumeur, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
  • If needed, use antibacterial wipes for surfaces, pockets, and seams.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026
Definition of antibacterial
Noun
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • These specialized pharmacies, which combine raw drug ingredients to create custom medicines, generally provide unique dosage forms for people with special needs.
    — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of medicine
Adjective
  • The blaze in Spokane County is unfolding during a wildfire year that so far has been historically destructive across the United States.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Associated Press reported in December that two NATO-nation intelligence services suspect Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to target Musk’s Starlink constellation with destructive orbiting clouds of shrapnel.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of destructive
Adjective
  • The Whitney has a fumigation guy who uses a process called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
    — Jake Offenhartz, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Humans have known for over a hundred years that UV radiation can kill deadly germs, and hospitals have used germicidal 254-nm UVC to sterilize objects for decades.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Mar. 2023
Definition of germicidal
Noun
  • The cost of daily life in Lake Stevens, Washington – fuel, groceries, medications and children’s formula – has added up.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Presley was hopelessly addicted to prescription medication at this point, dealing with a wide multitude of chronic health disorders.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of medication
Adjective
  • So having the pieces start to fall around her is devastating.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • When mice at Patricia Hunt’s lab at Washington State University began losing fetuses with devastating birth defects — facial deformities and missing hindquarters — or failed to reproduce at all, Hunt immediately put on her detective hat.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastating

Browse Nearby Words

antibacterial
antibiotic
antibiotics
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Cite this Entry

“Antibiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antibiotic. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on antibiotic

Nglish: Translation of antibiotic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antibiotic

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