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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the clean joy of running that young children experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the ship returned with a clean hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wipe
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
the thief got clean away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clean
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
In the 97th minute, chasing an equaliser from a corner kick, Scotland hit the first man, botched the clean-up job and found themselves on the retreat.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
These spatulas are easy to clean and come in handy for everything from baking to whipping up weeknight dinners.
—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 June 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for clean
Adjective
Roberts is requesting five years of probation, citing her clean 50-year record, age and health conditions including diabetes and a degenerative spine condition.
—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
In the 97th minute, chasing an equaliser from a corner kick, Scotland hit the first man, botched the clean-up job and found themselves on the retreat.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Verb
These are also machine washable, meaning despite coffee spills and the general wear and tear of a fitful sleeper, these can be properly cleaned in the wash.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
These spatulas are easy to clean and come in handy for everything from baking to whipping up weeknight dinners.
—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Adverb
Up to this point, Eloise has been a staunch proponent of Penelope coming clean to Colin and quitting the Lady Whistledown operation for good.
—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 June 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for clean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean
Adjective
-
The project has sparked outrage because of the location’s pristine nature and unique habitat that would be irreversibly devastated, according to environmentalists.
-
But even if his off-court record were pristine, this is brutal work.
Adjective
-
Those also include new regulations on mail-in voting that are likewise facing legal challenges.
-
Nejat received legal support from the Association of Flight Attendants, which has been trying to organize Delta’s 28,000 flight attendants for decades.
Adjective
-
The World Cup visitors being blown away by all that is America is pure entertainment.
-
Post-split, one Comcast entity will be a pure-play entertainment content company, with NBCUniversal and Sky assets, while the other company will be a leading broadband, cable and wireless provider.
Adjective
-
Officers from multiple city departments also conducted a thorough inspection of the property in April, animal control field operations manager Bryan Harkey told the Observer.
-
After this preliminary assessment, the Georgia State Patrol was asked to take over the investigation to ensure a thorough and independent review.
Adjective
-
As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
-
Evidence for at-home tools is thinner than for professional manual drainage, but the simplest options can offer mild circulation and surface-lymph support at a low price.
Adjective
-
In a show mostly devoid of explicit messages, the sentiment surprised me.
-
Players take on the role of a Ditto capable of mimicking its human trainer, and the Pokémon is thrown into a world devoid of humans.
Verb
-
Separate the jade plant from other plants so the pests won’t spread, then wipe the leaves with neem oil.
-
Suppose a relatively small near-Earth object is speeding toward our planet, threatening to wipe the city of Dallas (whose population is over a million) off the map.
Verb
-
Propellers can be particularly burdensome because rotors often need to be removed, cleaned and reinstalled, requiring some real elbow grease.
-
The pool is being cleaned twice annually, with 10 to 15 large truckloads of debris removed at each cleaning, the National Park Service reports.
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
