as in legally
according to the rules or the law
it was a cleanly fought match, so you have no grounds for complaint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sanitary
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleanly
Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Childhood, adolescence, and adulthood—like all biological states, from autism to Alzheimer’s—exist on a spectrum, not as cleanly bounded stages.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
Other options like the fall apart-tender pork belly taco, topped with sour-sweet tamarind salsa, cleanly acidic gooseberry salsa, and bright serranos round out the thoughtful menu at Guerilla Tacos.
—Javier Cabral, Bon Appétit, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
The report said residents and industry should either pay more to buy coal with less sulfur or other fuel, or pay for and install new equipment to burn the sulfur-rich coal more cleanly.
—Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Childhood, adolescence, and adulthood—like all biological states, from autism to Alzheimer’s—exist on a spectrum, not as cleanly bounded stages.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
Other options like the fall apart-tender pork belly taco, topped with sour-sweet tamarind salsa, cleanly acidic gooseberry salsa, and bright serranos round out the thoughtful menu at Guerilla Tacos.
—Javier Cabral, Bon Appétit, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
-
Some trappers focus on humane, live-capture and relocation for nuisance animals, while others are licensed hunters who can legally trap and kill animals during hunting seasons.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
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The pledge is a moral commitment rather than a legally binding contract—participants sign an open letter explaining their reasons for giving.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But along with this and keeping the toilet lid closed when not in use, here are a few other tips for keeping the bathroom a safe and sanitary place.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
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Both diseases would have been deadly in the early 1800s in the absence of sanitary conditions and antibiotics.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Rockets and satellites were historically mostly built in massive, sterile places where engineers in Tyvek suits moved cautiously around intricate components.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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Intelligence Profiles That Foster Innovation At GAIME Conference, creativity is the focus, not sterile conference rooms.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Because brushes are so much more hygienic than sponges.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
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Together, the two components promise a more hygienic, user-friendly, and sustainable alternative to traditional menstrual products.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Such is life in Marthaland, where homemaking tasks are plucked from the realm of everyday drudgery and elevated to a pure pursuit of excellence.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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To this end, while the loss of two aircraft in short order seems suspicious, it could be explained through pure chance.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are lined up to start for the Dodgers – and will meet them in San Diego well-rested and untainted by the lackluster effort at Coors Field.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
22 Aug. 2025
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These estimates also included assets untainted by any obvious exploitation of the Presidency, such as properties that Trump owned before entering office, or fees paid by resort customers who simply want to play golf or book a hotel room.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Linen clothing that is not pre-washed or that is dried in high heat can shrink by 15 percent.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
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Pre-washed greens, like those in salad kits, aren’t immune to these issues.—
Danielle Zickl,
Health,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Viewers couldn’t get enough of the adorable nighttime ritual, which quickly turned into a wholesome comment thread filled with laughter and relatability.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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While the bad clown—a horror staple—might seem like a perversion of a wholesome form of entertainment historically meant for children, the clown in popular culture has always been subversive.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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