clean (up) 1 of 2

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
3

cleanup

2 of 2

noun

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 (up)
Noun
The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied North Carolina's request for the agency to match 100% of the state funds for Helene cleanup, according to a letter sent from the acting FEMA administrator to the governor of North Carolina. Luke Barr, ABC News, 28 May 2025 Scott, a former two-term governor of the Sunshine State and no stranger to working with the agency while battling major hurricanes, characterized FEMA as rife with fraud that does little more than write checks for post-disaster cleanup. Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025 Royal Gourmet 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill This propane grill is equipped to handle all your barbecues with cast iron cooking grates, a removable grease tray for easy cleanup, side table, and side burner to cook side dishes simultaneously. Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 24 May 2025 When the party is over, just throw this iced tea pitcher in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
  • When Late Night is forced to censor an interview, Deborah and Ava get inadvertently embroiled in controversy.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Even printing those three words is a good way to start a fight—people will disagree about which, if any of them, should be censored.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Volunteer in a California state park or join the local chapter of California Native Plant Society project to eradicate invasive plants and preserve native habitats.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • Surgeons removed her thyroid gland but did not fully eradicate the cancer, which had spread to her vocal cords, the paper said.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The younger Zoll was the prime suspect in his father’s killing, and authorities launched a multiweek search for him late last year.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
  • The fatal attack was part of a wave of racially motivated killings during that era in the United States, especially in the south.
    Sam Gillette, People.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Paper gowns could be easily shortened to miniskirt length to wear as a reception or getaway dress.
    Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025
  • The jacket sleeves were shortened along with her trousers, leaving a well-deserved moment for Jackson’s statement combat boots.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • So, this should lower those percentage gaps in time, if not erase them.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • The voices and contributions of women and people of color were overlooked and erased through much of America’s military history.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • The upward trend in brand support was so steep for a period of time that some sponsors were accused of exploiting LGBTQ issues for the purpose of turning a profit.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 6 June 2025
  • Does the employer pay for the worker’s time, regardless of the outcome, thereby protecting the worker from losses or limiting the right to a profit?
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • 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, 29 May 2025
  • And just reported this month, early data from CRISPR Therapeutics demonstrated in a small trial that its gene editing therapy reduces bad cholesterol and triglycerides by as much as 80 percent.
    Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • The initiative has its critics, who fear that abolishing property taxes would leave local governments without sufficient funds to support crucial public services.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
  • The latter is known for his misogynistic statements, and has promised to follow through on Mr. Yoon’s commitment to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family.
    Yejin Gim, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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