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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
For instance, investigating this biomineralization process in organisms like aquatic mosses could open a parallel path toward environmental cleanup.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Giving back, and the backstory Two dollars from every premium entry will also help fund cleanup efforts for Hurricane Helene, with a goal of raising $20,000.
—Shane Connuck
october 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency tested air and water samples to determine how much pollution was being released – both to determine cleanup efforts and to assess fines.
—Philip Steenstra, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Safety protocols remain in place as the situation is monitored and cleanup operations continue.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
For instance, investigating this biomineralization process in organisms like aquatic mosses could open a parallel path toward environmental cleanup.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Giving back, and the backstory Two dollars from every premium entry will also help fund cleanup efforts for Hurricane Helene, with a goal of raising $20,000.
—Shane Connuck
october 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency tested air and water samples to determine how much pollution was being released – both to determine cleanup efforts and to assess fines.
—Philip Steenstra, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
Marighella was shown in Berlin in 2019, but was censored in Brazil.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Libraries and schools that are removing and restricting books for partisan or ideological reasons are censoring them.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lead poisoning, all but eradicated in the West, still harms millions of children in the developing world, with lead-acid battery recycling a key culprit.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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Each of these roles — and several others — catered to the warmth and wit of an actress who helped eradicate regressive notions of what a Hollywood funnywoman could do.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bilodeau was 23 at the time of Theresa’s killing and lived with his grandparents about one mile from where the girl lived and worked.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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The issue boiled over last month after the high-profile killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail prompted state leaders to investigate the city’s transit security and spending.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sam's Club previously had shortened hours on Sunday.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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Just last month, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship was shortened to 18 holes due to severe thunderstorms, ultimately leading to its cancellation.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After a sleepy start, the Americans came to life throughout the middle third of the game, and erased an early 1-0 deficit to end their October camp on a high note.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
15 Oct. 2025
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Many of those drivers could have stemmed or erased their losses simply by waiting for another year or two and paying off some or all of the remaining loan balance, Drury said.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Studies show that fines that don’t put a significant dent in a company’s profit don’t deter companies from future violations, Leffel said.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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Its sales are large, its profits are larger.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their responses, which have been edited slightly for length, can be found below.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
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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 WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, when your organization was founded less than 45 years after slavery was abolished, when Black women were still being forced to be wet nurses to the very children of those who oppressed them and lynching was a common occurrence below the Mason-Dixon Line?—
Essence,
Essence,
3 Oct. 2025
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The European Parliament has twice called for Yahaya’s release, asking Nigeria to set an example by abolishing the blasphemy laws under which he has been detained for over five years.—
Sean Nelson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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