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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
These grants can cover cleanups and sustainable cultivation projects, or even related efforts such as fish conservation.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
If Roberts bats Tucker second and Smith fifth, Freeman would likely take over as the cleanup hitter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Schoen quickly resigned himself to losing kayaks and other river equipment and mentally prepared for a debris cleanup first thing in the morning.
—Abrielle Kate Maddison, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
In court filings and at trial, Muskego officials argued the chalk messages were disruptive and inherently threatening, pointing to complaints from postal customers and $900 in cleanup and administrative costs submitted by the property owner.
—Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
These grants can cover cleanups and sustainable cultivation projects, or even related efforts such as fish conservation.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
If Roberts bats Tucker second and Smith fifth, Freeman would likely take over as the cleanup hitter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Schoen quickly resigned himself to losing kayaks and other river equipment and mentally prepared for a debris cleanup first thing in the morning.
—Abrielle Kate Maddison, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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His remarks appeared to be aimed in part at providing a message of unity after Vance from the same stage last year launched a blistering attack on European leaders, accusing them of censoring free speech, failing to control immigration and not doing enough to protect the region militarily.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
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Perpetually offended, safe spaces, censoring free speech, culture of victimhood.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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Because of these and other factors, the program to eradicate coca farming in Colombia failed, and production exploded.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Under Belgian law, circumcision is supposed to be performed by medical professionals, with the country also recently prohibiting Jewish kosher slaughter, or shechita, which requires animals to be conscious at the time of their killing.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Naismith Trophy will narrow down 10 semifinalists on March 13, then shorten the list to four finalists on March 25.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
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The first of those playoff teams was fortunate that the season was shortened to 60 games, as its starting pitching was ankle-deep shallow.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cook County has also had a separate program to erase medical debt.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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This administration is literally erasing Black and Transgender people from society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Several profit reports from companies helped to lift stocks Wednesday.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Time spent on Instagram The lawsuit alleges that Meta designed its platforms to keep users scrolling and juice profits, a key line of questioning Wednesday.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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Today’s edition of 5 Things AM was edited and produced by CNN’s Andrew Torgan.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a similar move, Dissanayake's government abolished perks provided to former presidents in September in response to popular demand.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
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The holiday first made it to the states when French explorers settled in New Orleans, and the celebrations stuck until the Spanish gained control of Louisiana and abolished the carnival.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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