Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

sterile

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of sterile

1 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 of sterile

barren, fruitless, impotent, infertile, unfruitful
Words Related to sterile

altered, desexed, neutered, sterilized

castrated, emasculated, gelded

spayed

unproductive
Near Antonyms of sterile

fecund, luxuriant, productive, prolific

enriched, fertilized, rich

impregnated, pregnant

potent

bearing, producing, yielding

blooming, bursting, flourishing, swarming, teeming
Antonyms of sterile

fat, fertile, fruitful
2 free from filth, infection, or dangers to health
  • sterile surgical supplies
Synonyms of sterile

aseptic, germfree, hygienic, sanitary
Words Related to sterile

germproof

antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, germicidal, microbicidal

clean, immaculate, pristine, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, squeaky-clean, stainless, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied

pure, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted

bleached, cleansed, purified, scrubbed, washed, whitened
Near Antonyms of sterile

infectious, pathogenic, poisonous, sickening, toxic

bedraggled, besmirched, dingy, dirty, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smirched, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, unwashed

defiled, polluted, tainted, unsterilized
Antonyms of sterile

germy, insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary, unsterile

Learn More about sterile

  1. See words that rhyme with sterile Dictionary: Definition of sterile Medical Dictionary: Definition of sterile Spanish Central: Translation of sterile Nglish: Translation of sterile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sterile for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sterile

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sterile? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games