sterilizing

verb

present participle of sterilize
as in altering

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterilizing
  1. altering
  2. neutering
  3. castrating
  4. fixing
Verb
  • Because of the shift in approach, with only weekend games assured of both pregame and postgame shows, the Heat also are altering their approach with their broadcast talent.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This cyclic climate phenomenon drives up temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, altering the world’s climate and weather patterns for months.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of altering
Verb
  • If fully enacted, the cuts would amount to as much as 30% of PTS’s budget, and strip almost all operational funding from TaiwanPlus, thereby neutering the broadcaster.
    — Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And rather than trying to be, in my view, kind of smart about how to build up a Lebanese government for the purpose of disarming and neutering Hezbollah, which is definitely in Israel’s interest, Israel has been engaged in this bombardment of Lebanon.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Definition of neutering
Verb
  • Under colonial rule hijras were accused of acting as male prostitutes and of kidnapping and castrating children to grow their community.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Definition of castrating
Verb
  • The Edmonton Oilers spent the summer fixing long-standing cap issues, addressing immediate team needs and getting younger at important roster spots.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That setup, in which the land is owned separately from the home, makes the home ineligible for a traditional mortgage and disincentivizes residents from making major investments and fixing problems like insulation.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of fixing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

sterilizes
sterilizing
sterling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sterilizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sterilizing. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All