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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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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean towel.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Home cleaning brand TruEarth recommends using multiple tools and methods to completely remove pet hair.
—Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
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
These are crucial for catalytic converters, electronics, and clean-energy technologies.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean towel.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Other nice features include a handle that drops parallel with the floor to clean under furniture and a sponge mode that uses suction to help dry the floor after mopping.
—Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Home cleaning brand TruEarth recommends using multiple tools and methods to completely remove pet hair.
—Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
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
-
Warm, gauzy photographs depict a rustic kitchen hung with antique baskets and gleaming copper pots; militantly tidy arrangements of canapés; and a radiant young Stewart in a spotless white dress.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The vacuum is dedicated to getting even the tiniest specks of dirt, circling back two or three times until the area is spotless.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Barton’s story bears a striking resemblance to the narrative outlined in Corcoran’s legal claim and suggests the franchise was enjoying demonstrable success at a time that could be critical to determining if and how much she is owed.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
-
For most of modern American history, the only legal place to bet was Nevada, and that was seldom, if ever, the place cheaters chose to place their bets.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Such is life in Marthaland, where homemaking tasks are plucked from the realm of everyday drudgery and elevated to a pure pursuit of excellence.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
To this end, while the loss of two aircraft in short order seems suspicious, it could be explained through pure chance.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Before any surgery, patients undergo thorough medical and psychological evaluations to ensure readiness, both physically and emotionally.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police are conducting a thorough investigation with the assistance of multiple law enforcement partners.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While House Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority vote, Senate Republicans cannot advance most matters without meeting a 60-vote threshold.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
-
But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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
-
An employee was using a hip towel to wipe their hands throughout their shift.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Her theory is that, in cleaning up the murder scene, the killer forgot to wipe the doorknob.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These risks have prompted the United States, China, and other spacefaring nations to develop advanced systems for tracking, avoiding, and potentially removing orbital debris.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
My son removes his shoes and socks and joins me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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