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
Solano County officials last fall enacted similar restrictions at Lake Berryessa, barring boats from the Delta unless they are quarantined or decontaminated.
—
Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Then on Wednesday, sheriff’s officials sent an urgent message to patrol cars, saying the Altadena 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, 21 Jan. 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
And soil and groundwater can be decontaminated using in-situ bioremediation methods using bacteria and fungi.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Then on Wednesday, sheriff’s officials sent an urgent message to patrol cars, saying the Altadena 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, 21 Jan. 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
And soil and groundwater can be decontaminated using in-situ bioremediation methods using bacteria and fungi.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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The smart robot also senses when the mop is getting dingy and goes back to the station to clean it.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 May 2025
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This handy appliance can clean all sorts of household items beyond those found in kitchen cupboards.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Kemba never changed, the money, the lifestyle, none of it wiped the joy, the smile from his eyes and his face.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
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When cleaning, simply use a dry or damp cloth to wipe it down.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Listen to this article WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda.—
Seung Min Kim,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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Just for the record, Patrick Mahomes didn’t get his iconic mohawk sheared off to purge that 40-22 drubbing by the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Clemson stopped a late-season skid that included eight losses in its previous 10 ACC games by sweeping Pitt on the road over the weekend.—
Mitch Light,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Just a few weeks later, she was swept off to the WNBA draft and selected by Dallas as a guard.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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