1
as in barren
not able to produce fruit or offspring
sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children the apple tree turned out to be sterile, never yielding a crop of apples
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sanitary
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health
the hospitals in the war-torn city often lack necessary drugs and sterile surgical supplies
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Recent Examples of sterile
The fungicide, also known as DBCP, became notorious decades ago when male workers on Latin American banana plantations became sterile after the chemical was absorbed into their skin.
—
Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
When performing a cesarean delivery outside of an operating room, there is no sterile field preparation or surgical draping; antiseptic solution may simply be poured on the abdomen.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Bring in Living Greenery Plants bring life and freshness into a room that can otherwise feel sterile after a deep clean.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Navarro says that when every piece of décor is in matching pairs, the space can feel forced, overly staged, and even a little sterile.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
When performing a cesarean delivery outside of an operating room, there is no sterile field preparation or surgical draping; antiseptic solution may simply be poured on the abdomen.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Bring in Living Greenery Plants bring life and freshness into a room that can otherwise feel sterile after a deep clean.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Navarro says that when every piece of décor is in matching pairs, the space can feel forced, overly staged, and even a little sterile.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterile
Adjective
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The experience gave me a front-row seat to the coast’s dramatic beauty, and also a lesson in the abundance of the Arctic, a region often assumed to be barren.—
Karen Gardiner,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
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This isn't to say every single post-starburst galaxy is totally barren.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For livestock, this would include potable water, sanitary living conditions and access to a windbreak such as a building or tree line.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Results showed 80% of respondents voted no, citing both sanitary and ethical concerns.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sterile. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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