Synonyms of clean

clean 1 of 3

adjective

ˈklēn 

1

as in spotless

free from dirt or stain

although the soccer team always starts out with clean uniforms, they don't stay that way for long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spotless
• immaculate
• pristine
• stainless
• spick-and-span
• squeaky-clean
• shiny
• unsullied
• unsoiled
• milky
• chaste
• unstained
• pure
• sanitary
• antiseptic
• sparkling
• sterile
• bright
• fair
• snowy
• hygienic
• unpolluted
• flawless
• cleanly
• white
• untainted
• wholesome
• washed
• cleansed
• undefiled
• bleached
• scrubbed
• purified
• germfree
• unblemished
• whitened
• taintless
• abluted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unclean
• filthy
• stained
• soiled
• foul
• uncleaned
• grubby
• muddy
• spotted
• dingy
• grimy
• greasy
• unwashed
• polluted
• mucky
• sullied
• tainted
• besmirched
• smirched
• blackened
• unsterilized
• discolored
• unsterile
• defiled
• germy

2

as in legal

following or according to the rules

a clean check from the other hockey player

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legal
• fair
• moral
• ethical
• honorable
• sportsmanly
• sportsmanlike
• scrupulous
• just
• unimpeachable
• principled
• irreproachable
• law-abiding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unfair
• foul
• nasty
• wrong
• vicious
• immoral
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• unsportsmanlike
• unprincipled
• unrighteous

3

as in pure

free from any trace of the coarse or indecent

only clean songs will be permitted for the performances on the last night of summer camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pure
• immaculate
• modest
• chaste
• decent
• decorous
• virginal
• spotless
• vestal
• virgin
• unblemished
• untainted
• stainless
• unsullied
• G-rated
• untarnished
• unsoiled
• proper
• unspotted
• unstained
• harmless
• refined
• undefiled
• lily-white
• tasteful
• cultivated
• seemly
• inoffensive
• innocent
• innocuous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unclean
• filthy
• coarse
• impure
• obscene
• indecent
• vulgar
• stained
• smutty
• soiled
• immodest
• unchaste
• tainted
• improper
• tarnished
• spotted
• blemished
• unseemly
• crude
• indelicate
• ribald
• indecorous
• defiled
• sullied
• tacky
• tasteless
• unrefined

4

as in thorough

trying all possibilities

police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thorough
• extensive
• complete
• comprehensive
• sweeping
• exhaustive
• total
• thoroughgoing
• full-scale
• systematic
• wide
• out-and-out
• all-out
• general
• inclusive
• broad
• methodical
• far-reaching
• wide-ranging
• global
• in-depth
• unhampered
• no-holds-barred
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• random
• haphazard
• shallow
• aimless
• superficial
• desultory
• limited
• cursory
• narrow
• hit-or-miss
• restricted
• slipshod

5

as in simple

having no exceptions or restrictions

the clean joy of running that young children experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• simple
• complete
• pure
• unconditional
• utter
• sheer
• absolute
• perfect
• very
• total
• definite
• damn
• damned
• thorough
• outright
• real
• flat
• deadly
• unadulterated
• blank
• crashing
• huge
• regular
• profound
• stark
• plumb
• fair
• downright
• thoroughgoing
• consummate
• dreadful
• unqualified
• dead
• unmitigated
• categorical
• blooming
• endless
• constant
• genuine
• flat-out
• stone
• rank
• authentic
• bodacious
• straight-out
• horrible
• unalloyed
• out-and-out
• all-out
• arrant
• terrible
• classic
• perpetual
• eternal
• veritable
• unrestricted
• main
• extreme
• unremitting
• terrific
• hopeless
• extraordinary
• confirmed
• undying
• habitual
• supreme
• superlative
• inveterate
• frightful
• surpassing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncertain
• questionable
• doubtful
• restricted
• qualified
• dubious
• equivocal

6

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present

the ship returned with a clean hold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devoid
• empty
• barren
• blank
• bare
• vacant
• drained
• vacuous
• stark
• emptied
• void
• open
• clear
• toom
• hollow
• dry
• available
• free
• uninhabited
• deserted
• depleted
• unoccupied
• vacated
• unfilled
• unattended
• unfurnished
• abandoned
• exhausted
• forsaken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• full
• complete
• provided
• furnished
• replete
• occupied
• filled
• supplied
• flush
• packed
• overflowing
• teeming

clean

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to wipe

to remove the dirt from

we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wipe
• scrub
• rinse
• tidy
• cleanse
• wash
• brush
• turn out
• purge
• deterge
• decontaminate
• purify
• disinfect
• sweep
• sanitize
• vacuum
• mop
• GI
• shampoo
• dust
• launder
• comb
• freshen
• swab
• brighten
• sponge
• scour
• straighten (up)
• spruce (up)
• sweeten
• deodorize
• dry-clean
• muck (out)
• unclutter
• pick up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• soil
• spot
• stain
• besmirch
• sully
• foul
• muddy
• pollute
• taint
• defile
• begrime
• discolor
• blacken

2

as in to remove

to take the internal organs out of

cleaned the rabbit before cooking it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remove
• draw
• cut
• extract
• eviscerate
• gut
• excise
• disembowel
• bone
• dress
• withdraw
• transplant
• yank

clean

3 of 3

adverb

1

as in legally

according to the rules or the law

a boxer who doesn't fight clean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legally
• cleanly
• fair
• fairly
• morally
• ethically
• honorably
• nobly
• high-mindedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• illegally
• unethically
• ignobly
• immorally
• dishonorably
• underhandedly

2

as in completely

to a full extent or degree

the thief got clean away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• completely
• fully
• quite
• perfectly
• totally
• utterly
• fast
• all
• thoroughly
• well
• wholly
• wide
• even
• absolutely
• entirely
• out
• exactly
• entire
• enough
• flat
• dead
• full
• for fair
• soundly
• at length
• to pieces
• in whole
• all over
• all the way
• down to the ground
• basically
• to bits
• down the line
• heartily
• plumb
• altogether
• cold
• plain
• through and through
• mostly
• to the max
• to the hilt
• all of
• substantially
• generally
• downright
• largely
• mainly
• predominantly
• primarily
• categorically
• predominately
• principally
• stone-cold
• generously
• unqualifiedly
• by and large
• chiefly
• overall
• abundantly
• hands down
• stone
• greatly
• more or less
• copiously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partially
• partly
• halfway
• just
• half
• slightly
• barely
• minimally
• hardly
• superficially
• marginally
• scarcely
• incompletely
• somewhat
• part
• approximately
• roughly
• kind of

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clean

Adjective

An employee was also observed not washing their hands properly before handling clean dishes, pots and pans. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

The cleanest—and most compelling—version of Jentleson’s argument is for politicians to match their constituents’ views or take broadly popular positions. — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Rubber or silicone gloves for protection while cleaning or doing the dishes. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 18 Sep. 2026

Air fresheners, perfumes, cleaning supplies and paint spark allergy flare-ups that can last for 10 days. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026

Adverb

Before things kicked off, a chant devoted to keeping the earth clean echoed at the beach. — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

That's especially proven in season 2, when — after coming clean to her team about holding Sir captive — Gabi's closest allies turn their backs on her. — Dave Quinn, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing clean

• clean (up)
• clean bill of health
• clean house
• clean up one's act
• come clean (about)