sanitary

adjective

ˈsa-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce sanitary (audio)
Definition of sanitarynext
as in sterile
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health the nurse made sure that everything in the room was sanitary so that the baby wouldn't get sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 sanitary Typical customers served by sanitary wastewater systems using 3,500 gallons of water would see an increase of about $28 per month. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026 Along with keeping things sanitary, regularly washing the soft goods in your bathroom can also keep the laundry scent in the air fresh and inviting. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 31 May 2026 Contact with the body of an Ebola victim is an easy way for the disease to spread, but sanitary disposal of a body conflicts with the cultural burial rites of the Congolese. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Heavy bleeding is characterized as bleeding that lasts longer than seven days per cycle or needing to change a sanitary product nearly every hour. — Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sanitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanitary
  1. sterile
  2. hygienic
Adjective
  • Earlier this year, an open letter from agency leadership warned against using federal funds to buy harm reduction supplies like sterile syringes and pipes, or to distribute test strips for common drug supply contaminants.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Minimalist and cozy are two words that come to mind when describing the Zixuan daybed, which has a clean silhouette but doesn’t feel sterile thanks to its plump pillows.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sterile
Adjective
  • The Associated Press visited a school in Nuwakot that is being used as a temporary aid distribution center, where nongovernmental organizations distributed solar panels, clothes and basic hygienic goods.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The water, which goes through a multistage filter, has to be regularly flushed out to remain hygienic; the scent dispensers need to be refilled; and the spray nozzles need to be unclogged.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hygienic

Phrases Containing sanitary

Browse Nearby Words

sanitarium
sanitary
sanitary landfill
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sanitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanitary. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All