sterilize

verb

Definition of sterilizenext
as in to alter

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sterilize Researchers raise the flies by the millions, sterilize the males with radiation, and release them in overwhelming numbers. — Ethan Stone, AZCentral.com, 17 June 2026 Scientists irradiate male flies to sterilize them, then release them by the million. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 Explainer The facilities sterilize screwworm pupae with radiation to produce sterile flies, and the males are then distributed to mate with wild female flies. — Ilena Peng, Fortune, 13 June 2026 Everything, including all camera equipment, had to be sterilized with wipes. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sterilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterilize
  1. alter
  2. neuter
  3. castrate
  4. emasculate
  5. fix
Verb
  • Generative AI can alter several activities at once because language sits at the center of administration, education, law, media, software and knowledge work.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of alter
Verb
  • That panel did adopt a nonpartisan elections/open primaries proposal and sent it to the City Clerk on May 27, which was the same day that Mayor Mamdani evoked a new state law meant to neuter the Adams/Mastro panel.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 July 2026
  • Now that the referee’s decision has been effectively neutered with few details as to why, the world is left to draw its own conclusions.
    — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of neuter
Verb
  • Those expectations got castrated because of last season’s early struggles.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, on Monday, June 8, Municipal Court Judge Louis Sancinito found Lowe guilty of possessing the deer without a permit, interfering with a conservation officer attempting to confiscate the animal, and having Rudy illegally castrated.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Definition of castrate
Verb
  • Under Republican control, the House of Representatives has been emasculated.
    — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 5 May 2026
  • No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.
    — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of emasculate
Verb
  • The tech giant was racing to fix weaknesses in its code that a new AI model known as Mythos was uncovering at an unprecedented clip.
    — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026
  • The OpenAI agents exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Artifactory, which OpenAI has since disclosed to JFrog, and which the company confirmed has since been fixed.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of fix

Browse Nearby Words

sterility
sterilize
sterilized
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Cite this Entry

“Sterilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sterilize. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sterilize

Nglish: Translation of sterilize for Spanish Speakers

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