sternutate

S1T1E1R1N1U1T1A1T1E1

verb

To expel air as a reflex induced by an irritation in the nose.

Similar
sneeze
OriginLatin sternūtāre →
Scrabble 10
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbsternutate (third-person singular simple present sternutates, present participle sternutating, simple past and past participle sternutated)

present singular third person sternutates · participle present sternutating · participle past sternutated · past sternutated

  1. humorousmedical slangTo expel air as a reflex induced by an irritation in the nose.

    Scientists are attempting to unpick the mystery of the “photic sneeze” – a bizarre reflex that causes people to sternutate, or sneeze, in response to bright light – and they need your help.

    2020 October 11, Lisa Geddes, “Calling all sneezers: scientists try to unpick mystery of 'photosneezia'”, in The Guardian

    Synonyms: sneeze

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo expel air as a reflex induced by an irritation in the nose.

Similar
sneeze
Also see
sneeze

Origin

  1. Latinsternūtāre
  2. Latinsternūtāre
  3. Englishsternutate

Borrowed from Latin sternūtāre.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

sternutate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sternutate

MLA

“sternutate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sternutate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sternutate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sternutate.

Source: sternutate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.