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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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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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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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)
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Amid the demolition, her mother became the cleanup crew.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 17 May 2025
Also at issue is whether the Trump EPA will attempt to reverse a Biden-era rule adding the original Scotchgard and Teflon chemicals to the federal Superfund law, which would require polluters, rather than taxpayers, to pay for cleanups.
—Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Those with questions about the overflow and cleanup efforts can reach the Bureau of Utilities at 410-313-4900.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Police said several southbound I-25 lanes were closed at 23rd for the crash cleanup and investigation, but all lanes reopened later Sunday morning.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Amid the demolition, her mother became the cleanup crew.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 17 May 2025
Also at issue is whether the Trump EPA will attempt to reverse a Biden-era rule adding the original Scotchgard and Teflon chemicals to the federal Superfund law, which would require polluters, rather than taxpayers, to pay for cleanups.
—Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Those with questions about the overflow and cleanup efforts can reach the Bureau of Utilities at 410-313-4900.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
An On the Contrary segment about censoring the Ethan interview.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
-
The administration also took away the money Dr Hall needed to continue his UPF research, censored his media access, and incorrectly edited his response to a NY Times inquiry.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Princess Eugenie is also the founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, which endeavors to eradicate modern slavery, and helped establish Key to Freedom, a social enterprise initiative facilitating a route to market for products made by survivors of trafficking at Women’s Interlink Foundation.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
22 May 2025
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Yeast overgrowth can often be eradicated with one dose of an oral tablet called fluconazole (Diflucan).—
Cheyenne Buckingham,
SELF,
13 May 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
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News of the killings shook the small southern Oklahoma community, KOCO reported at the time.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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So, this should lower those percentage gaps in time, if not erase them.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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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 problem is that many businesses want to see a profit on the first transaction.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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The news came even as the company has cut its sales and profit forecasts.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Ironically, users spend significant time editing these AI outputs, essentially becoming engineers trying to coax a machine into sounding real.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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The day continued with a session on Final Cut Pro, where attendees learned about editing techniques and how to refine their video content.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Currently 20 states have passed laws that would abolish clock changes if they are given permission to do so by the federal government.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mamés was full of tears of joy from Tottenham fans clad in white and players alike at the full-time whistle as the team abolished the reputation for not finishing big matches.—
David Close,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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