1
as in to tidy (up)
to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff
you're expected to clean up after you use the workroom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to censor
to remove objectionable parts from
cleaned up the rock star's interview before publishing it in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in killing
an exceptionally large return
The couple made a cleanup when they flipped the house.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Daily News, 29 May 2026
Or, for even easier cleanup, use a sleeping bag and a padded mat.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
There was no estimated time for when the cleanup would be completed and the roads would reopen.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Eco mode is one of the easiest ways to make everyday kitchen cleanup a little more energy-efficient without changing your routine much.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
The experience inspired Basel to launch a cleanup club at her school and even consider becoming a marine biologist.
—Daily News, 29 May 2026
Or, for even easier cleanup, use a sleeping bag and a padded mat.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
There was no estimated time for when the cleanup would be completed and the roads would reopen.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Eco mode is one of the easiest ways to make everyday kitchen cleanup a little more energy-efficient without changing your routine much.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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Your first warning is when local news, embassy alerts, and travel communications become inconsistent or censored, situational awareness is compromised.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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Still, the web will likely remain heavily censored, experts warned; Tehran is reportedly using Chinese hardware to strengthen its censorship capabilities, further proof that Beijing is exporting the technology that powers its cutting-edge firewall.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
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How did the United States eradicate them?—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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For an easy summer cleaning tip, wash towels in hot water and toss 1/2 cup of baking soda into the rinse cycle to eradicate stale scents.—
Emerson Latham,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Front and center in that battle was Vice President JD Vance, who served as guest host of Kirk’s eponymous podcast five days after his killing.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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Patrick Randall Perry, 55, is the fourth defendant charged in the brazen May 20 killing of Berry Le’Mar Henderson, 37, near Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
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During this time, last names were often shortened — Karagounis might become Karras, for example.—
Philip Freeman,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
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The program exists to shorten learning curves through clarity and care, offering guidance shaped by lived experience.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 on Wednesday night.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Her belief in a universal truth was not unique, but her pursuit of it was relentless and oddly self-erasing.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
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That's the endless complaint from a number of uninformed fans, outside observers, certain media members and opposing owners happy to push for a salary cap to guarantee themselves more profits.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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Duke’s profit + data centers The disagreement over return on equity is one of the central concerns customer advocates and ratepayers have in the case.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
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Da Messina’s Annunciation famously excises the angel Gabriel, while Ghirri’s version further edits the event by also obscuring the Virgin herself.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
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And actually one of his first public acts after signing the Constitution was to petition Congress to abolish slavery.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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Avila Chevalier’s campaign priorities also include abolishing ICE, adding affordable housing and securing federal funds to repair the city’s public housing.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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