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
From there, the walls had to be opened, the insulation had to be changed out and every horizontal surface had to be decontaminated or replaced.
—
Rina Nakano, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Afterward, the animals were decontaminated and bathed, and those who experienced the most inhalation are being supervised at a veterinary clinic, Halverson said.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Rina Nakano, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Afterward, the animals were decontaminated and bathed, and those who experienced the most inhalation are being supervised at a veterinary clinic, Halverson said.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
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
-
Most pillows can be machine-washed or washed by hand and should be cleaned at least once or twice a year.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike its silver counterparts, the sheen on gold flatware fades over time if they are cleaned in the dishwasher.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then, a viral essay from a tech CEO swept the internet with stark declarations about how AI could disrupt jobs.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The program is three games ahead of second place Mansfield Lake Ridge (8–3), which North Crowley swept in district play.—
Myah Taylor,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From 2016 to 2019, around 4,000 judges in Turkey were purged and replaced with far less experienced judges who are supporters of Erdoğan.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Maybe that oversized bath sheet that isn’t getting used needs to be purged.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminated. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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