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
Penny and Ghazarian hired their own industrial hygienist, who concluded the property needed to be decontaminated of heavy metals and other combustion by-products.
—
Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The sheriff's office says first responders were decontaminated at the hospital.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
After receiving a settlement from his insurance company, Minds used the funds to decontaminate and fix his house.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Radiation protection personnel allegedly responded to the incident quickly, pulling the worker from the water and decontaminating him safely.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The sheriff's office says first responders were decontaminated at the hospital.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
After receiving a settlement from his insurance company, Minds used the funds to decontaminate and fix his house.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Radiation protection personnel allegedly responded to the incident quickly, pulling the worker from the water and decontaminating him safely.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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Why Pros Prefer White Linens In addition to looking luxurious, white linens are preferred by pro cleaners and launderers because they can be cleaned more rigorously.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
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The project is seen as vital to clean water and a healthy environment for the South Florida region, as it is designed to store more water from Lake Okeechobee to be cleaned before it is sent south to the Everglades.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Rub it across the grates until the residue is removed, then wipe them down with a damp cloth and start planning your next cookout.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
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Mix 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent into a bucket of warm water and gently wipe the wall clean.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But there is a big difference between ordinary political competition and a coordinated national effort to purge state lawmakers for exercising independent judgment on a matter before their own legislature.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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If this obscene gerrymander survives, the next one will purge what little remains of Democratic representation in the Legislature, where the GOP holds massive supermajorities far beyond its share of the electorate.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Well, Brown needed a few more pitches this time, but the 26-year-old delivered a stellar performance to help the Cubs avoid getting swept at Truist Park.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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The Knicks, who swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, would have homecourt advantage against Cleveland, which is 1-5 on the road in the playoffs, but not against Detroit, which dominated the Knicks in three games this season.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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