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
There are infectious disease outbreaks that tear through the women’s asylum, pre-antibiotics and vaccines, but there is also Lucia Strangman, one of Europe’s first female doctors, who rises to these challenges and then some. — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026 When the skin’s community of protective bacteria was suppressed with antibiotics, the frogs became more likely to develop signs of disease. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Organic eggs come from hens raised without routine antibiotics and on organic feed, which can reduce concerns about antibiotic use and some pesticide exposures, Manaker says. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 20 Sep. 2026 On its menu, BurgerFi burgers feature hormone and antibiotic-free angus beef with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Fi sauce. — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 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
  • Several drugs in this class are approved to treat obesity in adolescents 12 and older, but none are currently approved for younger children.
    — Babak J. Orandi, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The drug induces a powerful loss of personal identity and a brief but total dissolution of time and space.
    — Ryan Sullivan, Artforum, 1 Oct. 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
  • The formula is packed with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial ingredients like turmeric and heartleaf extract.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • After washing, the appliance can move through steam sanitization and hot-air drying before entering a 72-hour antibacterial storage mode, which circulates filtered air to help keep cleaned parts dry and ready for use.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of antibacterial
Noun
  • The international community’s ability to manage safe travel and secure banking, communications and quality standards for food, water, and medicine could all be compromised, too.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Boehringer has pitched the medicine as a way to help patients lose fat while preserving muscle, but without an edge, the drug becomes just one more contender in an increasingly crowded market dominated by Eli Lilly and Novo.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of medicine
Adjective
  • Recent warnings about the potential destructive power of AI are understating the severity of the situation.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Desperate to change, Tonya turns to her estranged mother, Wanda (Miller), who offers little concern and instead accuses her of repeating the same destructive patterns that shaped her own childhood.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 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
  • These medications include blood thinner, insulin, chemotherapy drugs, and opioid pain medication.
    — Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • That means doctors don’t have a definitive answer for families when asked how long their child might need to stay on the medications, or what the long-term effects might be.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of medication
Adjective
  • Families confronting a devastating diagnosis may already be frightened, grieving and overwhelmed.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Nepal is still recovering from devastating flooding in August that swept away several villages, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and nearly 6,000 missing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on antibiotic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antibiotic

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