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
A day earlier, sheriff’s officials sent an urgent message out to patrol cars, saying the air had become so toxic after days of wildfires that deputies should wear masks on the job and decontaminate their uniforms before stepping foot in their homes.
—
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
And soil and groundwater can be decontaminated using in-situ bioremediation methods using bacteria and fungi.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 15 Jan. 2025
They’re required to decontaminate all equipment and wear full protective suits with a special kind of respirator.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2025
In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches.
—Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
And soil and groundwater can be decontaminated using in-situ bioremediation methods using bacteria and fungi.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 15 Jan. 2025
They’re required to decontaminate all equipment and wear full protective suits with a special kind of respirator.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2025
In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches.
—Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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The smart robot also senses when the mop is getting dingy and goes back to the station to clean it.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 May 2025
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This handy appliance can clean all sorts of household items beyond those found in kitchen cupboards.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Told that the $250 million raised was comparable to the interest payments starving third world countries were paying to superpower debtor nations, Bono and friends pushed those nations to wipe the debts.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
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Lightly wipe, dab with a cotton ball, or use a spray bottle when applying the salt.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Since then, the pair hasn’t been seen together and Yung Miami’s Instagram account has been purged to only include posts that reflect on her upcoming album.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2025
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Last December, however, Netflix purged most of its interactive content — including Puss in Book — with only a handful of titles remaining.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Just a few weeks later, she was swept off to the WNBA draft and selected by Dallas as a guard.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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Commercial radio fever swept the nation beginning in 1920, with more than 600 new stations emerging by the time the Opry premiered.—
Lindsay Kusiak,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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