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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in legal
following or according to the rules
a clean check from the other hockey player
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
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5
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the clean joy of running that young children experience
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6
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the ship returned with a clean hold
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1
as in to wipe
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
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2
as in to remove
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in legally
according to the rules or the law
a boxer who doesn't fight clean
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2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
the thief got clean away
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Back in the before timeline, at a late-night diner, June starts to come clean.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Nicole MacIas Garibay, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Rinse the area well after cleaning.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
Gannon Burgett, Car and Driver, 28 Mar. 2023
These services sell carbon credits offered by NGOs and governments that, using offset proceeds, plant mangroves, distribute clean-burning stoves, preserve grasslands, and install digesters to capture cooking gas from manure among other types of projects.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
Adjective
Lawmakers said the act would allocate $200 billion for the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to be used for clean energy generation projects and to modernize the state's electric grid.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Back in the before timeline, at a late-night diner, June starts to come clean.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
His wife, who cleans hospitals, starts work before dawn and does school pickup in the afternoon.
—Nicole MacIas Garibay, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Rinse the area well after cleaning.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
Adverb
Natural Gas: Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel source that is generally less expensive than other fuels.
—Gannon Burgett, Car and Driver, 28 Mar. 2023
These services sell carbon credits offered by NGOs and governments that, using offset proceeds, plant mangroves, distribute clean-burning stoves, preserve grasslands, and install digesters to capture cooking gas from manure among other types of projects.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean
Adjective
-
NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin shared that a local law enforcement source described the property as spotless, implying there were no signs a struggle had taken place inside the house.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
It was sent by a Southern California attorney who has represented Citizens for Positive Growth & Preservation in legal disputes with Sacramento for over a decade.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
For decades, the understanding was that social-media companies were essentially immune from any such legal liability.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With speed on the right wing as essentially a pure winger rather than her usual right-back role, Oke gave Reign’s defense fits, especially when another midfielder joined and created overloads.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers in Germany are developing a new electrochemical method to coat fusion reactors with pure tungsten.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Those needs are likely to mean a more thorough dive into the transfer portal and additional exploration of the Canadian major junior leagues — two areas where Motzko’s program did not play very often.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Not just a quick pass with a vacuum, but a real, thorough clean — especially when the seasons change.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Styles for men and women are available -- all with Allbirds design philosophy that's clean, modern and perfectly simple -- lightweight, bouncy and wildly comfortable.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
On April 18, that reverence will look like music, laughter and a line of people waiting for something hot out of the fryer — a simple plate carrying stories from across the world, all landing in one place.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Verb
-
Simply use the attached pre-cleaning brush to wipe off debris, then wipe with the carbon pads.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
After gaining access, the attackers used malware to wipe data on thousands of computers at oil giant Saudi Aramco, disrupting business operations.—
William Akoto,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The committee ultimately amended the bill to remove vehicular homicide as a crime of violence.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
At the time, Kansas City police chief and former FBI agent Lear Reed was on a campaign to clean up the police force and remove the lingering influences of Pendergast.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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