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
Between 300 and 350 personnel at the facility were decontaminated as a precaution, officials said.
—
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
A day earlier, sheriff’s officials sent an urgent message out to patrol cars, saying the air had become so toxic after days of wildfires that deputies should wear masks on the job and decontaminate their uniforms before stepping foot in their homes.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Between 300-350 employees were decontaminated at the site and provided Tyvek suits to return home in.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
But now, researchers have developed a new way to take the genes from all these species and place them in a single bacterial strain that can decontaminate complex waste mixtures.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
A day earlier, sheriff’s officials sent an urgent message out to patrol cars, saying the air had become so toxic after days of wildfires that deputies should wear masks on the job and decontaminate their uniforms before stepping foot in their homes.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Between 300-350 employees were decontaminated at the site and provided Tyvek suits to return home in.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
But now, researchers have developed a new way to take the genes from all these species and place them in a single bacterial strain that can decontaminate complex waste mixtures.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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Failing to clean dirty clothing or fabrics gives larvae an ideal food source.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
30 July 2025
-
Todd, 56, began by discussing an inmate who suffered a lung health issue after allegedly being forced to clean asbestos and black mold without a respirator.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Go over everything with a clean rag dipped in your soapy solution, wiping every surface.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
25 July 2025
-
Hogan apologized, but the WWE had already decided to terminate his contract and effectively wipe him from the sport, removing references to him from their website, pulling merchandise, and even yanking him from the WWE Hall of Fame.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
During a May 19 town hall meeting with NIH staff members, Jay Bhattacharya, the institute’s new director, equivocated when asked about funding cuts for research into improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities — cuts made under the guise of purging DEI from the government.—
Rachana Pradhan,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
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All 12 seasons and 264 episodes of MSW were purged from Peacock this morning, despite the fact that the series is owned and distributed by Universal Television, sibling studio to the streamer.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 July 2025
-
Once a cult product known for its use in aiding hair growth through scalp massage, castor oil — a natural oil derived from castor seeds — is now sweeping the beauty-sphere with its many uses and purported benefits.—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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