as in cleaning
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 decontaminating
Radiation protection personnel allegedly responded to the incident quickly, pulling the worker from the water and decontaminating him safely.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminating
Verb
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Moisten the disposable sheets with water and a gentle cleaning agent like Dawn dish soap, then use the DIY wet wipes to clean countertops or messy faces.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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Spray the piercing with sterile saline wound wash when cleaning it.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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The country is undergoing a regulatory overhaul since Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad dissolved parliament in 2024, with reforms accompanied by purging citizenships the government says were fraudulently obtained, though rights groups say political opponents have also been targeted.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hadid's looks for the night included a lace lingerie piece dripping in silver fringe and a red hot satin bra with a matching garter and underwear, along with a floor-sweeping robe.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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His first goal for Spain’s under-20s was similarly spectacular, starting the move against Mexico after an incisive pass into Virgili before sweeping into the far corner with an unstoppable first-time strike.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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