Definitions

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.

The government was awarded £122m plus interest from PPE Medpro last year, after a court ruled the firm had breached a contract to supply sterile surgical gowns during the pandemic.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Playing in a sterile stadium built to house the soul-crushing losses of the NFL Jets and Giants, the 27-year-old Parisian dazzled more than 80,000 with a pair of second-half goals against Senegal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

The rooms are polished without feeling sterile, featuring plush beds, large bathrooms and spacious showers.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

At a press conference Monday afternoon, federal and Texas officials are putting sterile flies at the center of their effort to control New World Screwworm.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

More than likely, people have already done it, and that’s what got us to where we are right now—this sterile, boring, overly monitored lab.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Vocabulary lists containing sterile

The Handmaid's Tale

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

All Thirteen

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!