STERILIZED Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

sterilized 1 of 2

adjective

as in sterile

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

sterilized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sterilize

as in neutered

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sterilized

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

Verb

Weight gain is especially common after cats are spayed or neutered because hormonal changes can lower their metabolism and activity levels.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
All adoption-able pets at Humane Indiana are vaccinated, tested for heartworm, dewormed, microchipped, given flea/tick and heartworm prevention, and spayed or neutered.

— Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of neutered

Verb

Those expectations got castrated because of last season’s early struggles.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Earlier this month, on Monday, June 8, Municipal Court Judge Louis Sancinito found Lowe guilty of possessing the deer without a permit, interfering with a conservation officer attempting to confiscate the animal, and having Rudy illegally castrated.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026

Definition of castrated

Verb

No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.

— Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
Jordan continues yapping about being emasculated and being less of a man for staying with his wife.

— Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025

Definition of emasculated

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.

Browse Nearby Words

sterilize

sterilized

sterilizes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sterilized

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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'?

Popular in Wordplay

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

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes