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to detoxify

to detoxify

2 5.4
To remove harmful substances from something to make it safe
  • verb
  • /diˈtɑːksɪfaɪ/
translation icon : desintoxicar
  • Samac worked with University of Minnesota scientists to create plants that detoxify atrazine.
  • detoxify excess estrogen
  • enzyme that detoxifies
  • detoxify carcinogenic

Do you have tips on detoxifying mold?

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Examples

  • One possibility is that, besides enhancing the nutritional value of fiber, foregut fermentation allows microbes to detoxify the noxious chemicals of tropical plants before the food is absorbed.

    Academic text (1992)
  • We will likely be using electricity to strip selected atoms from molecules, for example, to detoxify waste by removing its chlorine.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Do you take anything to detoxify your body of PAHs?

    Blog text (20)
  • Its function is to cleanse and detoxify the blood; however, it also aids in digestion.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The Redmond Trading Co. packages a mineral-rich clay product that will detoxify the body.

    Blog text (15)
  • The blood that carries the drug circulates to the eye before it reaches the detoxifying liver and kidneys.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Understand that free radicals harm the body through oxidative damage brought on by the body's inability to detoxify adequately.

    Blog text (27)
  • Flowing water reoxygenates itself; the atmosphere scavenges chemicals; and the soil solution detoxifies contaminants.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Incineration sterilizes and detoxifies.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Many fruits and vegetables can help detoxify your body by removing harmful substances.

Synonyms

to eliminate
vsto detoxify
  • Specialized
81 4.3

Remove waste or harmful substances from the body

is a deliberate removal to render something harmless rather than natural expulsion
to purge
vsto detoxify
49 6.3

To remove unwanted substances, things, or people by cleaning

is limited to removing harmful or toxic substances rather than people or general items
to refine
vsto detoxify
  • Specialized
41 3.9

Remove unwanted parts from a material to make it pure

focuses on removing harmful toxins to render things harmless not only purer
to cleanse
vsto detoxify
33 3.0

Remove dirt and germs from a person's body by washing

focuses on surface cleaning rather than removing harmful toxins
to purify
vsto detoxify
30 4.6

To remove dirt and bad chemicals from water or air to make them clean

targets harmful or toxic substances broadly not only liquids or gases
to sterilize
vsto detoxify
  • Specialized
29 4.1

To make something like medical tools free of bacteria using heat or chemicals

removes living organisms completely rather than removing chemical toxins
to filter out
vsto detoxify
20 3.8

To remove unwanted things from water, air, or lists by letting the rest pass

uses broader removal methods beyond just physical filtering
to neutralize
vsto detoxify
  • Specialized
19 5.8

To make an acid or other chemical safe by a reaction

removes harmful material rather than changing chemical properties directly
to disinfect
vsto detoxify
18 3.7

To clean a surface, wound, or tool with chemicals to kill germs

targets microorganisms specifically rather than neutralizing chemical poisons
to fumigate
vsto detoxify
14 7.6

To treat a place with strong chemicals to kill pests and germs

is aimed at pests and disinfection rather than removing toxic harmful substances
to sanitize
vsto detoxify
  • US
11 3.7

Make something clean and free from bacteria

focuses on removing microbes and pathogens rather than chemical toxins
to decontaminate
vsto detoxify
  • Specialized
9 7.0

To remove harmful substances from a place or thing to make it safe

applies more generally not only to places or objects
to detox
vsto detoxify
2 3.9

To remove harmful things from the body by changing what you eat

applies to any object or system not only the human body
to decon
vsto detoxify
  • Jargon
1 8.4

To remove dangerous substances from people, equipment, or areas

is the general act of making things harmless without emergency focus
to detoxicate
vsto detoxify
7.5

Take harmful substances out of something to make it safe

has identical meaning but uses a different form
to clean one's system
vsto detoxify
5.1

To remove harmful things from the body or a computer

is the general action of rendering things harmless across contexts
to flush out toxins
vsto detoxify
4.4

Remove harmful substances from the body by drinking more water or sweating

uses general removal methods not focused on fluid intake
to denarcotize
vsto detoxify
  • NSFW
9.6

To remove drugs from something so it no longer contains them

is limited to removing narcotics rather than all toxic or harmful materials
to deterge
vsto detoxify
  • Archaic
9.9

To clean a wound or the skin by washing away dirt and germs

targets toxic or harmful substances specifically rather than general washing

Antonyms

248 4.9

To make things like water or soil unsafe by adding harmful substances

How Decontaminated

to detoxify
2 5.4
to neutralize
  • Specialized
19 5.8
wash
89 1.0
rinse
8 1.0

Surface Forms

detoxify infinitive
detoxified past
detoxified past participle
detoxifying present participle
detoxifies third person singular

Morphology

detoxify = toxify (semi-transparent) = de + tox + ify

From 'toxify' meaning 'make toxic', adding de- straightforwardly gives the reverse meaning 'remove toxicity' or 'make non-toxic'.

Etymology

Detoxify breaks into parts: de- 'remove', tox 'poison', like toxin or toxic, and -ify 'make', so to detoxify something is to remove harmful substances and make it safe.