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
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
On a hot summer day in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, dozens of men removed pipes, asbestos and hazardous waste while working to decontaminate a nuclear facility and prepare it for demolition.
—Cathy Bussewitz, The Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
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
On a hot summer day in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, dozens of men removed pipes, asbestos and hazardous waste while working to decontaminate a nuclear facility and prepare it for demolition.
—Cathy Bussewitz, The Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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But the wisdom of a broad perspective isn’t confined to the cleaning aisle or personal care.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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Moisten the disposable sheets with water and a gentle cleaning agent like Dawn dish soap, then use the DIY wet wipes to clean countertops or messy faces.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Next, wipe the curler down with a rag dampened with warm, soapy water.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2025
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At another, the four-year-old appeared to pick his nose and wipe it on the Resolute Desk.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Though many of these have now been restored, thousands of pages were purged of references to gender and diversity initiatives, for example, and others including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) website remain down.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
19 Feb. 2025
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Multiple prosecutors in his office who worked on those cases were purged in the opening days of the Trump administration.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Chris Brown left his mark on the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, sweeping all three categories in which he was nominated.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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These bookings constitute major coups for the British star, who swept the Brit Awards a year ago.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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