Antiseptic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˌan-tə-ˈsep-tik/ an·ti·sep·tic

Meaning & Definition of Antiseptic

Antiseptic (adjective)

  1. opposing microbial infection; especially, preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) in or on living tissue (such as the skin or mucous membranes)
  2. relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptic substances
  3. scrupulously clean, aseptic

Antiseptic (noun)

  1. an antiseptic substance, a substance (such as isopropyl alcohol or chlorhexidine) that destroys or inhibits the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) especially in or on living tissue (such as the skin or mucous membranes)

Antiseptic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being clean and in good order

    "known for keeping a strenuously antiseptic kitchen, the floor of which does indeed seem fit for eating off of"

    similar: bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, orderly, picked up, prim, shipshape, smug, snug, tidied, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed
    related: dapper, natty, saucy, smart, spiffy, spruce, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, rakish, sleek, streamlined, taut, organized, straight, systematic
    opposite: disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy
    near: scruffy, seedy, shabby, slipshod, sloppy, dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, sordid, squalid, dowdy, frowsy, rumpled, tousled, tumbled, disorganized, unsystematic

  2. free from dirt or stain

    "for such an expensive, elegant Sunday brunch, one would expect the attendants at the buffet tables to be professionally attired in starched, antiseptic white jackets"

    similar: chaste, clean, fair, immaculate, pristine, spick-and-span, spotless, squeaky-clean, stainless, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied
    related: pure, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, wholesome, cleanly, germfree, hygienic, sanitary, sterile, abluted, bleached, cleansed, purified, scrubbed, washed, whitened, milky, snowy, white, flawless, unblemished, bright, shiny, sparkling
    opposite: besmirched, dirty, filthy, foul, grubby, smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleaned
    near: dingy, greasy, grimy, mucky, muddy, unwashed, defiled, germy, polluted, tainted, unsterile, unsterilized, blackened, discolored

  3. lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling

    "an antiseptic assessment of the chances of survival for the ailing patient"

    similar: arctic, brittle, chill, chilly, clammy, cold, cold-blooded, cold-eyed, coldish, cool, frigid, frosty, frozen, gelid, glacial, hard-eyed, icy, uncordial, unfriendly, unsympathetic, wintry
    related: bloodless, coldhearted, hard-hearted, heartless, kindless, pitiless, uncaring, unfeeling, reserved, soulless, undemonstrative, unemotional, unresponsive, apathetic, indifferent, unenthusiastic, uninterested, aloof, detached, dispassionate, impersonal, offish, standoffish, antisocial, unsociable, unsocial
    opposite: cordial, friendly, genial, happy, hearty, sympathetic, warm, warm-blooded, warmhearted
    near: compassionate, kind, kindhearted, demonstrative, emotional, expressive, eager, enthusiastic, passionate

Antiseptic (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in antibiotic, serum

    similar: antibiotic, serum, cure, drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, medicine, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific, cure-all, nostrum, panacea, botanical, patent medicine, prescription, prescription drug, cordial, potion, tonic, miracle drug, wonder drug, cap, capsule, pill, tablet, injection, shot, embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, poultice, salve

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Antiseptic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Antiseptic:

bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, orderly, picked up, prim, shipshape, smug, snug, tidied, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed, chaste, clean, fair, immaculate, pristine, spick-and-span, spotless, squeaky-clean, stainless, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied, arctic, brittle, chill, chilly, clammy, cold, cold-blooded, cold-eyed, coldish, cool, frigid

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Antiseptic

Words with the opposite meaning of Antiseptic:

disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, besmirched, dirty, filthy, foul, grubby, smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleaned, cordial, friendly, genial, happy, hearty, sympathetic, warm, warm-blooded

Related Words for Antiseptic

dapper, natty, saucy, smart, spiffy, spruce, rakish, sleek, streamlined, taut, organized, straight, systematic, pure, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, wholesome, cleanly, germfree, hygienic, sanitary, sterile, abluted, bleached, cleansed, purified, scrubbed, washed

Near Antonyms of Antiseptic

scruffy, seedy, shabby, slipshod, sloppy, nasty, sordid, squalid, dowdy, frowsy, rumpled, tousled, tumbled, disorganized, unsystematic, dingy, greasy, grimy, mucky, muddy, unwashed, defiled, germy, polluted, tainted, unsterile, unsterilized, blackened, discolored, compassionate

Word Forms of Antiseptic

Inflections: antiseptics

Derived words: antiseptically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Antiseptic

borrowed from New Latin antisepticus, from anti- anti- + Latin sēpticus putrefactive, septic

First known use: 1639

Frequently Asked Questions about Antiseptic

What does "Antiseptic" mean?

"Antiseptic" means opposing microbial infection; especially, preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) in or on living tissue (such as the skin or mucous membranes). As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: opposing microbial infection; especially, preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) in or on living tissue (such as the skin or mucous membranes). It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Antiseptic"?

Other words for "Antiseptic" include bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, orderly, picked up and prim. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Antiseptic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Antiseptic"?

There are 151 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Antiseptic". Common alternatives include bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, orderly, picked up, prim, shipshape and smug.

What is the opposite of "Antiseptic"?

Antonyms of "Antiseptic" include disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven and slovenly. Near antonyms include scruffy, seedy, shabby and slipshod.

How do you use "Antiseptic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Antiseptic" in a sentence: "known for keeping a strenuously antiseptic kitchen, the floor of which does indeed seem fit for eating off of"; "for such an expensive, elegant Sunday brunch, one would expect the attendants at the buffet tables to be professionally attired in starched, antiseptic white jackets"; "an antiseptic assessment of the chances of survival for the ailing patient".

Is "Antiseptic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Antiseptic" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Antiseptic"?

"Antiseptic" is pronounced /ˌan-tə-ˈsep-tik/ and divided into syllables as an·ti·sep·tic.

What is the origin of the word "Antiseptic"?

"Antiseptic" comes from borrowed from New Latin antisepticus, from anti- anti- + Latin sēpticus putrefactive, septic. First known use: 1639.