sanitize
/ˈsænɪtaɪz/
verb
- To clean something thoroughly by removing dirt and germs, often using chemicals or heat.
- The restaurant staff sanitize all kitchen surfaces after each shift.
- You should sanitize your phone screen with a disinfectant wipe.
- After the flood, volunteers helped sanitize the contaminated well water.
- To remove or change parts of information, a story, or a document to make it less offensive, controversial, or shocking.
- The publisher decided to sanitize the biography by removing all references to the scandal.
- The company tried to sanitize the report to hide the environmental damage.
- Some parents want to sanitize fairy tales so they are less frightening for children.
Antonyms