STERILE Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

sterile

adjective

ˈster-əl

Definition of sterile

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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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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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 sterile The sterile design didn’t have seats and encouraged people to order strictly via its mobile app. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 Cherished relatives died alone in hospital rooms surrounded by sterile machines and an ever-rotating set of masked medical personnel. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 To start begonias from their tiny seeds, plant in moist, sterile soil and provide indirect light and warmth. — Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026 All-White and Gray Kitchens Designers all agree that all-white kitchens often look basic and sterile. — Jane Kim, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sterile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterile

Adjective

Centered on the town of Bawiti, this remote depression in Egypt’s Western Desert is surrounded by barren hills, date palms, hot springs and sweeping desert landscapes.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
In Samuel Beckett's tragicomedy, two men wait beside a barren tree for someone called Godot who never arrives.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of barren

Adjective

Attempting to de-escalate the scare, Rospotrebnadzor declared the regional sanitary situation stable after secondary testing showed no traces of dangerous pathogens linked to Shipilova’s research.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
As the war raged on, this makeshift countermeasure was replaced by more sanitary and effective innovations, including gauze pads soaked in hyposulfite solution, flannel hoods, tube helmets, and box respirators.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sanitary

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stereotyping

sterile

sterility

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“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sterile. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sterile

adjective

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