Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms: Describes something that prevents infection by killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.
   • Devoid of objectionable language; clean and honest: Describes language, practices, or behavior that is inoffensive, pure, or morally clean.
   • Freeing from error or corruption: Describes a critical or corrective effect that removes impurities or mistakes.

2. Noun:

   • A substance that destroys micro-organisms that carry disease without harming body tissues: A chemical agent applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of infection.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The surgeon scrubbed with antiseptic soap before the operation.
  • The book provides an antiseptic version of history, omitting all the conflicts.
  • Her antiseptic criticism helped clean up the flawed proposal.

• Noun:

  • Apply an antiseptic to the wound to prevent infection.
  • Iodine is a common antiseptic used in first aid kits.

Advanced Usage

• In a figurative sense: Used to describe an environment, atmosphere, or piece of work that is excessively clean, sterile, or lacking in vitality or emotional depth.
  • The hotel room was functional but had an antiseptic feel, with white walls and no decorations.
  • The report was accurate but antiseptic, failing to convey the human suffering involved.

Variants and Related Words

• Antiseptically (adverb): In an antiseptic manner.
  • The laboratory was antiseptically clean.
• Antisepsis (noun): The process of using antiseptics to eliminate microorganisms.
  • Antisepsis is a cornerstone of modern surgery.

Synonyms

• Adjective (clean sense): Sterile, disinfectant, germicidal, sanitary.
• Adjective (inoffensive sense): Inoffensive, bland, innocuous, pure.
• Noun: Disinfectant, germicide, bactericide.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Septic, contaminated, dirty, corrupt, offensive.
• Noun: Contaminant, pathogen.

Related Phrases

• Antiseptic wipe: A small cloth pre-moistened with an antiseptic solution.
  • Use an antiseptic wipe to clean the skin before the injection.
• Antiseptic properties: The characteristics of a substance that allow it to kill microbes.
  • Honey has natural antiseptic properties.

Adjective

1. devoid of objectionable language
   • lyrics as antiseptic as Sunday School
2. freeing from error or corruption
   • the antiseptic effect of sturdy criticism
3. clean and honest
   • antiseptic financial practices
4. thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms
   • doctors in antiseptic green coats
   • the antiseptic effect of alcohol
   • it is said that marjoram has antiseptic qualities

Noun

1. a substance that destroys micro-organisms that carry disease without harming body tissues