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.
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Recent Examples of decontaminate
Irradiating food is a safety measure aimed to decontaminate it.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
For months, the day laborers had decontaminated homes that survived the Los Angeles wildfires.
—New York Times, 12 July 2025
The company would also deal with the problem of sealing the sample return capsule and making sure that it is decontaminated in accordance with NASA and international safety protocols against interplanetary contamination.
—New Atlas, 6 July 2025
People covered in jet fuel were also decontaminated before being treated.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
For months, the day laborers had decontaminated homes that survived the Los Angeles wildfires.
—New York Times, 12 July 2025
The company would also deal with the problem of sealing the sample return capsule and making sure that it is decontaminated in accordance with NASA and international safety protocols against interplanetary contamination.
—New Atlas, 6 July 2025
People covered in jet fuel were also decontaminated before being treated.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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Ice machine needs to be cleaned Plumbing not maintained in good repair.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Rachel's wedding dress is currently being cleaned, and then will be stored in hopes of future use.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One strong October could wipe it all away.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Use a dry cloth to wipe the seals when you are done.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If posts contain pictures, uploaders are told to purge metadata from those file attachments.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
-
What’s clear is that the power of that institution is now in the hands of hacks who clock in every single morning determined solely to purge this country of any citizen who ever dared to challenge or dislike this president.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Phillies were swept by just one team at home all season — the Brewers, in a series played more than four months ago.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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