sterilize

/ˈstɛɹɪlaɪz/verb
Middle School
1

To deprive of the ability to procreate.

2

To make unable to produce; to make unprofitable.

3

To kill, deactivate (denature), or destroy (break apart) all living, viable microorganisms and spores on a surface, in a fluid, or contained in a compound, such as culture media or a medical product.

4

To render a planet like Earth permanently uninhabitable to all life, including even microbes, causing their complete extinction.

5

To redact (a document), removing classified or sensitive material.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing