ANTIBIOTIC Synonyms: 166 Similar and Opposite Words

antibiotic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of antibiotic

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

as in biocidal

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Dissimilar Words

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

Women who test positive get antibiotics to keep the baby safe. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 Human rights organizations and medical volunteers have said that among the items being confiscated are incubators, ventilators and antibiotics. — Leila Fadel, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The donation supported research into infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and the diagnosis and treatment of infections in children with cancer. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use further help maintain a balanced microbial community. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antibiotic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for antibiotic

Noun

Another common response, readers wrote, is that the drugs have reduced their desire for alcohol as well as their appetite.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
But in recent years, Fiji has seen a surge in intravenous drug use as the islands have emerged as a crucial transit point for narcotics being trafficked from the Americas to lucrative markets in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 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

Noun

Now, a substantial portion of the country will be rooting for Michigan to take its medicine against Oklahoma.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The visitors spoke of the risks of the medicines Kiju made in our kitchen, of the dangers of a mistaken mushroom in a tonic, of the potential of death in the misuse of a berry or leaf.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of medicine

Adjective

Large, destructive waves and life-threatening rip currents are forecast across many Hawaiian shorelines during the next several days.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
America’s sense of security was smashed with apocalyptic fury Tuesday when the most destructive and meticulously planned terror attack in history shattered two of the country’s most potent symbols.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 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

Looks like the method acting (stopping his heart medication in order to play a dying man) paid off.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
These studies compared back support braces either on their own, with no other interventions, or their use in conjunction with other pain management recommendations such as physical activity and/or medication.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of medication

Adjective

Here are a few of the fronts on which that undeclared war is being fought, with devastating consequences for the next generation of Americans.

— David Wippman, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
Twenty-five years after the devastating terror attacks, the retired Bountiful, Utah, resident still carries the memories of that day — not only the fear and uncertainty, but also the camaraderie and grief shared by those around him.

— Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of devastating

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antibacterial

antibiotic

antibiotics

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Style

“Antibiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antibiotic. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of antibiotic

noun

adjective

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