v. 25B6; verb
the scalpel was first sterilized : DISINFECT, fumigate, decontaminate, sanitize; pasteurize; clean, cleanse, purify; technical autoclave.
over 6.5 million people were sterilized : MAKE UNABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN, make infertile, hysterectomize, vasectomize.
stray pets are usually sterilized : NEUTER, castrate, spay, geld, cut, fix, desex; N. Amer. & Austral. alter; Brit. informal doctor.
contaminate.