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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in killing
an exceptionally large return
The couple made a cleanup when they flipped the house.
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
The environmental group, which was in charge of a cleanup at Scraggane Bay when the message in the bottle was found, was able to confirm that Anita and Brad are still together — now with three children.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 13 July 2025
Save any receipts for building materials, cleanup supplies, temporary housing, replacement costs for clothing and home goods, and food costs.
File a claim with FEMA
Kerr County residents can start making those claims because that area has been declared a federal disaster area.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 2025
Once you’re done eating, the inner bowl and lid can go in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
—Anja Webb, Parents, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Families and individuals sat in nearby yards and on front steps Monday morning, shaded by umbrellas with the temperature above 80 degrees, as firefighters continued cleanup efforts into the afternoon, preventing traffic on the Vermont Street.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
The environmental group, which was in charge of a cleanup at Scraggane Bay when the message in the bottle was found, was able to confirm that Anita and Brad are still together — now with three children.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 13 July 2025
Save any receipts for building materials, cleanup supplies, temporary housing, replacement costs for clothing and home goods, and food costs.
File a claim with FEMA
Kerr County residents can start making those claims because that area has been declared a federal disaster area.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 2025
Once you’re done eating, the inner bowl and lid can go in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
—Anja Webb, Parents, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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Trump supporters have increasingly criticized the technology, saying safety guardrails end up censoring conservative views.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
23 July 2025
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But censoring the language does not erase the people most affected.—
Timothy Holtz,
Sun Sentinel,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Screwworms were eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s, but have been know to reemerge occasionally.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 July 2025
-
Israel retaliated and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eradicate Hamas.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Once contained to local disputes resolved between communities, the violence has exploded into mass killings fueled by population growth, the climate crisis, and the collapse of traditional peacemaking.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
26 July 2025
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The killing turned Gary, who was charged with second-degree murder, into an instant hero among some people.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
26 July 2025
Verb
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This formula/habit/trend does not typically occur across the pond, so shortening 'Edgware Road' to 'Edgware,' does pose an issue.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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The committee members wrote the evaluation should focus on reducing development and production costs, shortening the schedule, and maintaining the SLS rocket's lift capability.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Nothing Astronomer could have said or done would've erased the incident.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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Intel’s stock jumped early in 2025 as optimism built around new leadership, but shares fell over 9% after Thursday’s Q2 earnings and layoff announcement, threatening to erase most yearly gains.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The company, founded by Terry and his wife Kathy, on July 5, 2005, is donating all of the profits from sales at all 36 stores Thursday to the Austin Disaster Relief Network's Central Texas Flood campaign.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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What To Know Tesla reported a 16 percent drop in second-quarter profits for 2025, with net income falling to $1.17 billion (33 cents a share) from $1.4 billion, or 40 cents a share, a year earlier.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Another way to view downsizing is to edit or curate.—
Jann E. Freed,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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The poem became an anthem for abolishing convict labor in Florida.—
Time,
Time,
17 July 2025
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Those who call for abolishing ICE or halting deportations rarely grapple with what that would actually mean: open borders in all but name.—
Robert W Hood,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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