DECONTAMINATING Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

decontaminating

verb

present participle of decontaminate

as in cleaning

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of decontaminating The traditional boundaries between work and life dissolved as workers tried to maintain productivity through economic upheaval, all while decontaminating groceries and managing their children’s online classes. — Tess Lawrence, Harvard Business Review, 1 July 2026 Among our responsibilities was decontaminating people and equipment after exposure to hazardous materials. — Jennifer N. Pritzker, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 Radiation protection personnel allegedly responded to the incident quickly, pulling the worker from the water and decontaminating him safely. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decontaminating

Verb

Hand soap is meant for clearing surface dirt, cleaning expert Andy Wray says.

— Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
Blood Similar to cleaning urine stains, if the blood on your mattress is fresh, then start the process by soaking up excess liquid with a paper towel before cleaning the area.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of cleaning

Verb

Add things like purging closets and cleaning windows to your calendar on a regular basis, rather than having one big cleaning spree every spring.

— Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026
When purging categories was proposed during that period, it was met with fierce resistance from the Writers branch, as well as WGA.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 July 2026

Definition of purging

Verb

Miami has lost three of its last four overall since sweeping Washington in a three-game series last weekend.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Following Miller’s and Young’s plea agreement, Missouri lawmakers were divided in their opinions on whether to change the sweeping stand-your-ground laws enacted in 2016.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sweeping

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“Decontaminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decontaminating. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of decontaminating

verb

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