thimerosal

noun

thi·​mer·​o·​sal thī-ˈmer-ə-ˌsal How to pronounce thimerosal (audio)
: a crystalline organic mercurial antiseptic C9H9HgNaO2S used especially for its antifungal and bacteriostatic properties

Examples of thimerosal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Early on, Kennedy focused on thimerosal, a preservative, but after it was removed from most childhood vaccines in 2001, Iannelli said Kennedy shifted to other ingredients, known and unknown, falsely blaming them for myriad childhood illnesses. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 1 Mar. 2025 Kennedy has a long history of promoting conspiracies about childhood vaccines, including the theory that the preservative thimerosal—which has been phased out of most modern vaccine formulas—is linked to autism, a claim that’s been thoroughly discredited by medical studies. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 However, most vaccines used in recent decades no longer contain thimerosal because of manufacturing changes. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2024 Weldon has accused the CDC of colluding with the pharmaceutical industry to minimize liability and downplay the risks of thimerosal in vaccines. A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thimerosal

Word History

Etymology

probably from thi- + mercury + -o- + salicylate

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thimerosal was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thimerosal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thimerosal. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

thimerosal

noun
thi·​mer·​o·​sal thī-ˈmer-ə-ˌsal How to pronounce thimerosal (audio)
: a crystalline organic mercurial antiseptic C9H9HgNaO2S used especially for its antifungal and bacteriostatic properties see merthiolate

More from Merriam-Webster on thimerosal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!