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

When silhouettes become cleaner and more precise, Karaduman said recovery, structure and shape retention become increasingly important. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

All items arrived clean (professional cleaning is included in your BNTO box subscription) and showed no wear and tear, though they were wrinkled from shipping and needed a good steam before wearing. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

An alternative proposal to clean and restore the building while improving the exterior lighting would not affect its historic character, the report found. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

To save her hobby and help other bakers, she and friend, cofounder, and fellow sourdough enthusiast Alexis Dalinka set out to solve the sticky problem of cleaning dough and sourdough starter off of surfaces and tools. — Nina Elder, Time, 15 Oct. 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)