sterile

[ster-il, -ahyl] / ˈstɛr ɪl, -aɪl /

ADJECTIVE

unproductive, clean

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiseptic arid barren bleak desolate futile hygienic impotent infertile

WEAK

aseptic bare dead decontaminated desert disinfected dry effete empty fallow fruitless gaunt germ-free infecund pasteurized sanitary septic sterilized unfruitful uninfected unprofitable unprolific vain waste without issue

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful contaminated fertile fruitful potent productive profitable unclean unsanitary unsterile

WEAK

dirty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The material was then dialyzed, sterile filtered, and freeze dried.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Mr. Armitage writes with a poet’s mastery of rhythm and rupture, refusing both the sterile fidelity of the scholar and the vulgar opportunism of the adapter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

We also watched a nurse rummage through a medical waste disposal box without sterile gloves.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

In habeas doctrine, the danger has always been that federal review becomes so deferential that even substantial constitutional claims are transformed into sterile questions of state-court reasonableness.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

The birds that survived may have been rendered sterile.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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