antiseptic

adjective

Able to stop harmful germs from causing infection.

Example sentence

“Clean the cut with an antiseptic wipe before bandaging it.”

The figurative sense is a quiet insult: antiseptic prose or an antiseptic room is clean but lifeless.

Related words

sanitizeTo clean or disinfect something so that it is free of germs.vaccineThe act of vaccinating; inoculation to protect against disease.hygieneHabits and conditions that keep people clean and protect their health.pillA small rounded piece of medicine made to be swallowed easily.sanitaryClean and free from germs; relating to good hygiene.capsuleA tiny case that holds a single dose of medicine.