as in to clean
to remove dirty or dangerous substances (such as radioactive material) from (a person, thing, place, etc.)
Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.
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Recent Examples of decontaminate
In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches.
—
Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
Soldiers have to suit up in cumbersome NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protective gear and spend about an hour decontaminating a single vehicle.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2024
Some residents are allowed to visit their homes but can’t move back there while thousands of workers remove topsoil, branches, and other materials to decontaminate these areas.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Toby and Will have to work out their issues, CJ lays some hard truths on Donna, and Leo and Abbey have a frank discussion while Bartlet, Debbie, and Charlie are decontaminated.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
Soldiers have to suit up in cumbersome NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protective gear and spend about an hour decontaminating a single vehicle.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2024
Some residents are allowed to visit their homes but can’t move back there while thousands of workers remove topsoil, branches, and other materials to decontaminate these areas.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Toby and Will have to work out their issues, CJ lays some hard truths on Donna, and Leo and Abbey have a frank discussion while Bartlet, Debbie, and Charlie are decontaminated.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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The employee returned to clean the bathroom about 20 minutes later and saw Lawrence leave the stall.—
Silas Morgan,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Mar. 2025
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The cleaning company responded to more than 18,700 cases through the city’s 311 system and collected roughly 9 million pounds of trash in 2024, according to a city staff report.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacramento Bee,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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During one post-coital scene, Viet wipes ejaculate from Nam’s naked body.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
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Other moments included Nara getting her bridal makeup done, being walked down the aisle by her father and wiping Lucky's tears at the altar.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Maybe that oversized bath sheet that isn’t getting used needs to be purged.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
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One of the things that Erdoğan did right after the coup attempt was to purge the judiciary.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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They were swept from our minds when Uncle Wat mentioned some details of his hunt.—
Jim Tappan,
Outdoor Life,
20 Mar. 2025
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The war in Gaza began after Hamas’ operation on Oct. 7, 2023, which saw the group’s operatives sweep into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, some two-thirds of them civilians, and kidnapping about 250 others.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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