sterile

[ster-il, -ahyl] / ˈstɛr ɪl, -aɪl /

ADJECTIVE

unproductive, clean

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiseptic arid barren bleak desolate futile hygienic impotent infertile

WEAK

aseptic bare dead decontaminated desert disinfected dry effete empty fallow fruitless gaunt germ-free infecund pasteurized sanitary septic sterilized unfruitful uninfected unprofitable unprolific vain waste without issue

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful contaminated fertile fruitful potent productive profitable unclean unsanitary unsterile

WEAK

dirty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has gutted the bathroom attached to the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House’s private quarters, altering its green Art Deco tile work to a sterile marble with gold fixtures.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

And critics have accused his team of being too sterile to be crowned worthy champions of anything.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

When sterile water is added to the final powder, it becomes a biomaterial that can be delivered intravenously or infused into a coronary artery in the heart.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Until now, hospital pharmacy teams have had to prepare a bag of the drug under sterile conditions which is then given as an infusion into the vein through a cannula.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

“Perhaps I cleaned too much. I worry about such things. What if I’ve made the place completely sterile? Shouldn’t a home have a bit of bacteria lying about?”

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

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