as in sterile
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health
the nurse made sure that everything in the room was sanitary so that the baby wouldn't get sick
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Recent Examples of sanitary
The number of immigration judges and staff should be significantly increased so that asylum applications can be decided on a much quicker basis, and individuals waiting on asylum decisions should be provided safe and sanitary conditions.
—
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2026
Add these items to your regular cleaning routine to maintain a more sanitary space.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
From more sanitary and reliable health care products to light-weight (and hence energy efficient) infrastructure, plastics have been just as transformative in their benefits to humanity as bronze or copper or iron.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
This is sanitary by comparison.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanitary
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2026
Add these items to your regular cleaning routine to maintain a more sanitary space.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
From more sanitary and reliable health care products to light-weight (and hence energy efficient) infrastructure, plastics have been just as transformative in their benefits to humanity as bronze or copper or iron.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
This is sanitary by comparison.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanitary
Adjective
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Plants can seed readily, so look for sterile varieties such as 'Select Blue', 'Walker’s Low', or 'Cat’s Meow' that won’t become weedy in the garden.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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Mulch To maintain healthy strawberries, Montgomery places a sterile straw around the plants and then applies an additional layer of mulch on top.—
Lauren Wellbank,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The texture is rich, so a little goes a long way; use a spatula to keep things hygienic and scoop out the necessary amount.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
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However, air-drying dishes in a dish rack may be the most hygienic method.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanitary. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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