as in cleaned
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.
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Recent Examples of decontaminated
The bodies must be decontaminated before being taken to the corner’s office, local authorities said.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
More than a dozen first responders were quarantined and decontaminated after responding to the scene.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
After everyone on board has disembarked, the ship will be decontaminated based on Dutch public health guidelines.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Vacuum only after the area is thoroughly decontaminated.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
Sergei Skripal’s home, the area surrounding the bench where the pair was found, the home of a detective who fell ill, and two ambulance stations had to be decontaminated, along with the restaurant and pub.
—Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
Penny and Ghazarian hired their own industrial hygienist, who concluded the property needed to be decontaminated of heavy metals and other combustion by-products.
—Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Has been contaminated due to methamphetamine and the owner has not appealed or decontaminated the property within 90 days.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 June 2025
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
More than a dozen first responders were quarantined and decontaminated after responding to the scene.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
After everyone on board has disembarked, the ship will be decontaminated based on Dutch public health guidelines.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Vacuum only after the area is thoroughly decontaminated.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
Sergei Skripal’s home, the area surrounding the bench where the pair was found, the home of a detective who fell ill, and two ambulance stations had to be decontaminated, along with the restaurant and pub.
—Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
Penny and Ghazarian hired their own industrial hygienist, who concluded the property needed to be decontaminated of heavy metals and other combustion by-products.
—Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Has been contaminated due to methamphetamine and the owner has not appealed or decontaminated the property within 90 days.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminated
Verb
-
Before reopening, village staff collected multiple samples to check pool water quality, added chlorine to all pools, inspected all chemical distribution systems and the concession stand, and cleaned surfaces including guard stations, chairs, restrooms and locker rooms, the village said.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
-
These items are handled constantly (often by multiple different people) yet rarely cleaned.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The teller’s arm swept around the long-hut, the circular walls of the fortress that enclosed them in its embrace.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Check with lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may be swept into.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Burgum purged the department of roughly 13,000 staffers last year and announced efforts to reduce its workforce by even more in April.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
According to Kornfield, among the documents purged was a news release about a man who went to the Capitol with bear spray and is still facing an ongoing child solicitation case.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminated. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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