Synonyms of decontaminate

decontaminate

verb

as in to clean

to remove dirty or dangerous substances (such as radioactive material) from (a person, thing, place, etc.)

Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.

Related Words

• clean
• wipe
• purge
• sweep
• scrub
• purify
• comb
• disinfect
• cleanse
• sanitize
• wash
• turn out
• mop
• rinse
• brush
• vacuum
• launder
• dust
• swab
• shampoo
• deterge
• scour
• brighten
• freshen
• sponge
• tidy
• deodorize
• dry-clean
• spruce (up)
• GI
• sweeten
• muck (out)
• straighten (up)
• unclutter
• pick up

Dissimilar Words

• muddy
• pollute
• defile
• taint
• soil
• dirty
• discolor
• blacken
• begrime
• stain
• besmirch
• spot
• sully
• foul

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of decontaminate

The wire seals certify a vessel had either been decontaminated and inspected for invasive species or was last launched in the Lake Tahoe basin, agency officials said in a news release. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

Specialist teams came to retrieve the body and decontaminate the roadside, while his family members stood around and wept. — Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 15 June 2026

Officials have decontaminated the facility’s inmate housing as a precaution and medical staff are monitoring prisoners and staff, The Mercury News reported. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

All first responders and equipment involved in the operation had to be decontaminated, officials said. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026