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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The employee returned to clean the bathroom about 20 minutes later and saw Lawrence leave the stall.—
Silas Morgan,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Mar. 2025
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Unfortunately, there’s no hiding from the person cleaning your toilet, vacuuming under your couch, and taking out your trash.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There was the first video review of a goal, wiping another SDFC score off the board.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
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Give it a good scrub, then use a cloth or mop to wipe it down with clean, warm water.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Crow said the party needs to keep open arms to welcome back voters who picked Trump in the 2024 election, not purge all but the purists.—
Mike Allen,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
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The new administration is intent on wiping out DEI programs and purging those who supported them, even if their only sin was attending a diversity training seminar.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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They were swept from our minds when Uncle Wat mentioned some details of his hunt.—
Jim Tappan,
Outdoor Life,
20 Mar. 2025
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The war in Gaza began after Hamas’ operation on Oct. 7, 2023, which saw the group’s operatives sweep into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, some two-thirds of them civilians, and kidnapping about 250 others.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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