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
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
They’re required to decontaminate all equipment and wear full protective suits with a special kind of respirator.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2025
In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches.
—Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
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
They’re required to decontaminate all equipment and wear full protective suits with a special kind of respirator.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2025
In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches.
—Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminate
Verb
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Regularly cleaning your glass shower doors is essential for maintaining their clarity and protecting them from permanent damage or etching.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
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But cleaning it all up doesn’t have to be overwhelming.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Their handler Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who originally ordered each of the anti-heroes on a suicide mission to wipe them out, takes credit for putting together the team and publicly introduces them as the New Avengers.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
2 May 2025
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At the end of the week, the silhouettes were methodically erased by a second machine, which dripped water onto the canvas’s surface and wiped it away with a brush.—
Naima Morelli,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Verb
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By purging federal workers and canceling federal contracts, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency risks wiping out jobs inside the government and out.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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Over the next year, Smolny purged dozens of professors, including one who was fired for joining an anti-war protest.—
Anastasiia Vorozhtsova,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Despite employing one of the greatest players of all time for 15 years—not to mention other MVPs like Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols—the Angels have only made the playoffs once in Trout’s career, getting swept in the 2014 Division Series.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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The change seemingly happened earlier this week, just days before a trade loophole that allows American consumers to buy products from China without paying tariffs is set to disappear as part of sweeping new import duties imposed by US president Donald Trump.—
Zeyi Yang,
Wired News,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminate. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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