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Antimicrobial vs Antiviral - What's the difference?

antimicrobial | antiviral |

As adjectives the difference between antimicrobial and antiviral

is that antimicrobial is tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes while antiviral is (medicine) inhibiting the growth and reproduction of a virus.

As a noun antimicrobial

is an agent that destroys microbes, inhibits their growth, or prevents or counteracts their pathogenic action.

antimicrobial

English

Alternative forms

* anti-microbial

Adjective

(-)
  • tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes
  • inhibiting the growth of microbes
  • preventing or counteracting the pathogenic action of microbes

    • Synonyms

    * antimicrobic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • an agent that destroys microbes, inhibits their growth, or prevents or counteracts their pathogenic action

    • antiviral

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (medicine) Inhibiting the growth and reproduction of a virus.
  • (computing) Eliminating or inhibiting the action of a computer virus.