Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun detergent

2 senses of detergent

Sense 1
detergent -- (a surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering)
       => wetting agent, wetter, surfactant, surface-active agent -- (a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved)

Sense 2
detergent -- (a cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension)
       => cleansing agent, cleanser, cleaner -- (a preparation used in cleaning something)

Antonyms of adj detergent

1 sense of detergent

Sense 1
detergent, detersive -- (having cleansing power)

INDIRECT (VIA purifying) -> adulterating, adulterant -- (making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials; "the adulterating effect of extraneous materials")

Similarity of adj detergent

1 sense of detergent

Sense 1
detergent, detersive -- (having cleansing power)
       => purifying (vs. adulterating) -- (freeing from noxious matter; "filtration is a purifying agent")