How to Use bacterial in a Sentence

bacterial

adjective
  • Don't leave it out for more than two hours to prevent bacterial growth.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
  • The firefly and bacterial genes just didn’t work well in plants.
    — WIRED, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Our beds can play a host to a vast variety of bacterial species.
    — Manal Mohammed, CNN, 30 July 2021
  • The texture may be watery or slimy, which may be a sign of bacterial growth.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
  • If the nectar sits for too long, mold and bacterial growth will occur.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The gray bacterial cloud surrounds the coral like a shroud, settling on it.
    — Elizabeth Svoboda, Scientific American, 1 May 2021
  • Meanwhile, choose your vase, and give it a good clean to prevent any bacterial growth.
    — Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2024
  • The risk of bacterial growth is imminent if the chicken goes over three or four days in the fridge.
    — Mythili Devarakonda, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022
  • Weekly bacterial testing shows that much of the river is safe to swim once again.
    — Cari Shane, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2022
  • Choose brands that have five strains or more of bacterial cultures per 6-ounce serving.
    — Valerie Agyeman, Good Housekeeping, 29 Sep. 2022
  • Eggs should not be stored on the counter any longer than two hours to prevent possible bacterial growth.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025
  • To prevent bacterial growth, pat the area dry with a clean towel after use.
    — Laura Schober, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Leaf spot is a bacterial disease that appears as brown spots with yellow edges.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Eggs should not be stored on the counter any longer than two hours to prevent possible bacterial growth.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
  • Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can cause cows to abort their calves.
    — CBS News, 6 Dec. 2021
  • And these crowded bacterial breeding grounds may pose a threat to human health.
    — Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Those larvae feed on the hosts and can cause bacterial infections or death.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • Power outages can turn your fridge into a bacterial free-for-all.
    — Vanessa Swales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2021
  • It should be kept at or below 40ºF to slow bacterial growth and keep it safe to eat.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • They’re filled with stagnant, warm water that is more hospitable to bacterial growth.
    — Dylan Scott, Wired News, 23 Aug. 2025
  • If there was not enough nitrogen to support bacterial life, the work would be done by fungi.
    — oregonlive, 6 Nov. 2021
  • Choose plants that are resistant to bacterial wilt.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Just note that metal bottles can warm quickly, speeding up any bacterial growth if left in hot places.
    — Christina Manian, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
  • These bacterial colonies serve as the primary food source for other creatures in the cave.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • According to recent bacterial counts, Lorde will not grow a third eye and glow at her next show.
    — Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022
  • Some target the bacterial cell wall, weakening it until the cell breaks apart and dies.
    — Panteha Torabian, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
  • What are some symptoms and signs of flesh-eating bacterial illness?
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
  • For some foods, these fluctuations can pose bacterial or spoilage risks.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
  • Last year, the filth and grime led to an outbreak of bacterial infections, the complaint says.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2022
  • For best results, replace your sponge every two weeks to prevent bacterial buildup and odors.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026

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.

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