Synonyms of sterile

sterile

adjective

ˈster-əl 

1

as in barren

not able to produce fruit or offspring

sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children

the apple tree turned out to be sterile, never yielding a crop of apples

Synonyms & Similar Words

• barren
• sterilized
• infertile
• impotent
• unfruitful
• fruitless
• altered
• neutered
• emasculated
• castrated
• unproductive
• spayed
• desexed
• gelded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fertile
• fat
• fruitful
• productive
• rich
• prolific
• luxuriant
• enriched
• pregnant
• fecund
• impregnated
• potent
• bearing
• fertilized
• producing
• yielding
• flourishing
• bursting
• blooming
• teeming
• swarming

2

as in sanitary

free from filth, infection, or dangers to health

the hospitals in the war-torn city often lack necessary drugs and sterile surgical supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sanitary
• aseptic
• hygienic
• antibiotic
• germfree
• pristine
• clean
• healthful
• immaculate
• washed
• antiseptic
• stainless
• spotless
• healthy
• antibacterial
• germicidal
• unsullied
• squeaky-clean
• beneficial
• unsoiled
• microbicidal
• unstained
• salubrious
• unpolluted
• pure
• untainted
• spick-and-span
• wholesome
• scrubbed
• bleached
• germproof
• purified
• salutary
• cleansed
• undefiled
• restorative
• whitened
• salutiferous
• taintless
• abluted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsanitary
• toxic
• insanitary
• infectious
• unhygienic
• poisonous
• pathogenic
• dirty
• dusty
• unsterile
• filthy
• sickening
• unclean
• muddy
• dingy
• stained
• grimy
• sordid
• soiled
• unwashed
• foul
• nasty
• grubby
• pathogenetic
• noxious
• unhealthy
• mucky
• grungy
• germy
• bedraggled
• miasmic
• unwholesome
• polluted
• unhealthful
• unsterilized
• tainted
• uncleanly
• sullied
• draggled
• smirched
• insalubrious
• besmirched
• defiled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sterile

The Lake Wylie Marine Commission worked with those group to introduce 1,800 sterile Asian grass carp to Lake Wylie in 2009. — John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Her wrists were bandaged and a sterile pad was placed on her neck, Dougherty said. — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Addicts could bring their heroin and cocaine to a 13-seat center where staff dispensed needles, swabs, and sterile water to cook the drugs and offered advice on vein maintenance. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Commercial packaging risks However, prewashed doesn’t mean sterile. — Lisa Cuchara, The Conversation, 29 July 2026