as in drug
medical
a substance that is used to kill harmful bacteria and to cure infections
Related Words
Relevance
1
as in biocidal
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in antibacterial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 antibiotic
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
According to the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP), babies born with congenital syphilis will receive antibiotics right away, usually in the hospital after they are born.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 4 Feb. 2026
Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Pack a small bag with bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, and hand sanitizer.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antibiotic
Noun
These abilities would have been especially lifesaving prior to the development of antibiotics.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
According to the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP), babies born with congenital syphilis will receive antibiotics right away, usually in the hospital after they are born.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Even with antibiotic treatment, between 10% to 20% of people who catch the illness die, according to the city health department.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Pack a small bag with bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, and hand sanitizer.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antibiotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antibiotic
Noun
-
In a 2014 editorial, the Times argued the federal ban on the drug should be repealed, and the decision should be left up to the individual states.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, his administration announced a series of deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices of a few dozen drugs, including some eye-popping decreases of anywhere from 55 to 98 percent.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Developed in partnership with British company Indestructible Paint, the coating consists of that firm's conventional clear gloss resin along with a 2% concentration of a broad-spectrum biocidal agent known as chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX).—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Schuerger’s team is also expanding their tests to see how organisms respond to additional biocidal factors.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
25 Sep. 2016
Adjective
-
What about soap versus antibacterial soap?—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Since wood can develop bacteria buildup, simply wash your cutting boards after use with water and a gentle antibacterial soap, then add a fresh coat of food-safe oil every so often for a waterproof finish.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That deal would enable free trade on almost all goods between the EU's 27 members and India, covering everything from textiles to medicines and bringing down high import taxes for European wine and cars.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
When to use a neti pot In modern medicine, nasal irrigation through neti pots and other methods such as squeeze bottles and bulb syringes are widely recognized as a supportive therapy for sinus and nasal symptoms.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The first was late January’s destructive snow and ice storm that tracked across the South and then up along the East Coast.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But sometimes our most destructive adversary is within us.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nancy Guthrie, who is 84, relies on a specific medication for her health, giving the investigation some urgency, according to her family and investigators.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Commonly used medications for infertility, COPD, asthma, dermatitis, hot flashes and osteoporosis are also included.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Charbonnet and Walker made up the running back duo that was the pace-changer for the Seahawks offense, the complement to their devastating aerial attack led by Sam Darnold.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
As a result, their students experienced minimal learning loss and fewer social-emotional setbacks; public school students saw devastating declines in achievement and well-being.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Whitney has a fumigation guy who uses a process called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.—
Jake Offenhartz,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Humans have known for over a hundred years that UV radiation can kill deadly germs, and hospitals have used germicidal 254-nm UVC to sterilize objects for decades.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
8 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Antibiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antibiotic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
