How to Use bacterial in a Sentence

bacterial

adjective
  • Weekly bacterial testing shows that much of the river is safe to swim once again.
    Cari Shane, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2022
  • So wash your hands and read on for some of the sneakier places where germs and biofilms — the technical term for slimy layers of bacterial colonies — often lurk.
    Susannah Herrada, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2022
  • Flu, for example, can increase your risk of certain bacterial infections.
    Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2022
  • This led to his hospitalization for yeast in his blood, urinary tract infection and bacterial infections.
    Julianne McShane, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2022
  • Drug-resistant bacteria, also called superbugs, are cropping up across the spectrum of bacterial infections, linked to the overuse of antibiotics in medicine and in farming.
    Denise Roland, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2022
  • The firefly and bacterial genes just didn’t work well in plants.
    WIRED, 19 Sep. 2023
  • But in 2022, the lake shut down for six months due to a dangerous bacterial bloom.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2024
  • Meanwhile, choose your vase, and give it a good clean to prevent any bacterial growth.
    Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2024
  • The rock absorbs the excess water from the brush head and also resists mold and bacterial growth.
    Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2022
  • Cleanse your hands and face prior to the start of your at-home facial massage to prevent bacterial transfers to your skin.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 11 Aug. 2023
  • Crawford was unable to sing because of a bacterial infection but was cheered at the curtain call, stepping to the side of the stage.
    Mark Kennedy, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Apr. 2023
  • And two hours later, the bacterial counts in the salsa reduced to levels similar to the other dips.
    Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Jan. 2024
  • To prevent fungal and bacterial infections, water the money tree at the roots, not from the top where water gets on the leaves.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2024
  • Other home tests for these three bacterial STIs are already available over the counter.
    Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023
  • The fact is that an infection with flu can lead to group strep A as a secondary bacterial infection.
    Dr. Michael Daignault, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2022
  • Your gut has what’s known as a bacterial flora, which is a collection of microorganisms that help break down your food.
    Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 31 Jan. 2023
  • But weeks after closing on the home in Indiana, Toni got sick with a bacterial infection and died.
    Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023
  • Don’t keep scratching the bite, which just introduces the chance of a secondary bacterial infection.
    Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
  • Citrus canker, a bacterial disease, is not harmful to humans, but causes lesions on the fruit, stems and leaves.
    Freida Frisaro, Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2024
  • This type of bacterial infection can spread in the deer’s bloodstream and therefore hunters should not knowingly eat meat from a buck with brain abscess.
    Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
  • Whether the toilet lid is up or down doesn't make much difference in the spread of airborne bacterial and viral particles.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024
  • In all likelihood, Matthes said, the bacterial pathogen had spread to her reproductive tract, lining it with cysts that can be as big as oranges.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 17 June 2024
  • That patient suffered bacterial infections in her abdomen, as well as loss of brain function from the amount of toxins that were found in her blood, according to the board.
    Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 13 July 2023
  • This bacterial infection causes a rash on your palms, ankles, and soles of your feet, which then migrate toward the center of your body, per Dr. Schrading.
    Sarah Bradley, Women's Health, 26 May 2023
  • This can cause the intestines to drop or the belly to protrude, among other things and these changes might lead to motility problems or bacterial overgrowth in the gut, Dr. Spiegel theorized.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 27 Feb. 2023
  • The bacterial enzymes in the cleaner slowly break down natural blockages, like hair and food, but might not be strong enough to dissolve a complete blockage.
    Tanya Edwards, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
  • The class of antibiotics called macrolides have been used for decades to treat various bacterial infections.
    New Atlas, 24 July 2024
  • The most common cause is a bacterial infection that eats away at the protective lining of the digestive system.
    Melissa Ruggieri, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023
  • The concept would involve sending bacterial and fungal spores and a bioreactor to Mars.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN, 4 Feb. 2023
  • Syphilis is a bacterial infection that may appear minor at first.
    Jen Christensen, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bacterial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: