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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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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4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
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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
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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
Emma Seymour Feb 3, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2023
Under the auspices of the Sustainable Marblehead Beach Cleaning team, led by Pam Roberts, groups of volunteers clean at least one beach in Marblehead each week, year-round.
—Bette Keva, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2025
Today, teams spend hours wrangling spreadsheets, syncing tools and cleaning customer relationship management (CRM) fields.
—Aurelien Aubert, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 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
Also known as overlock machines, sergers create strong, durable seams and help produce clean fabric edges.
—Emma Seymour Feb 3, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2023
Under the auspices of the Sustainable Marblehead Beach Cleaning team, led by Pam Roberts, groups of volunteers clean at least one beach in Marblehead each week, year-round.
—Bette Keva, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Verb
With a Soft Oil-Rubbed Bronze finish, the cast metal table is durable against drink spills and pet claws alike, simply wipe to clean.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2025
Today, teams spend hours wrangling spreadsheets, syncing tools and cleaning customer relationship management (CRM) fields.
—Aurelien Aubert, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 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
-
Similar to wood floors, wood cabinets require special maintenance to keep them clean and spotless, without actually damaging the wood.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Keep your car spotless and clean of dirt and other contaminants.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There's also no legal requirement to report a find, but the state encourages it.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Last week's ruling by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of San Antonio adds to a growing wave of legal challenges on the matter in a fight that could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Just be sure to find a high-quality, pure product without additives.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Your browser does not support the video tag. DeMario Douglas, WR, NE: This is a pure volume play, but Stefon Diggs’ health is in question — supposedly ready for Week 1, but how ready is still a question, as is the rapport level with Drake Maye.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Key steps like doing thorough keyword analysis, enabling captions for accessibility, crafting clear, meaningful titles and organizing videos by context are essential.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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The authors have instead urged that symptoms are best assessed by a thorough clinical history with treatment decisions guided by clinical response and patient preferences.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For Zander, who has spent three decades championing play as a form of healing, the solution lies in something deceptively simple: rediscovering the human joy of play.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
In simple terms, net-new ARR is a way to show how fast a company’s recurring revenue base is growing.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Co-star Alicia Vikander wiped back tears amid the ovation, while director Olivier Assayas worked the crowd, bowing and climbing over the cinema’s seats to embrace his collaborators.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
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At one point, Roberts appeared to wipe a tear from her eye during the emotional moment.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Liam and Noel Gallagher, 16 years removed from what was ostensibly the final Oasis gig (following a scuffle between the two Mancunians backstage at a festival in England), have defied the oddsmakers.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
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One of the men on board, 41-year old Miles Connors, is a citizen who has been ordered removed from the U.S. twice since 2008 after several interactions with immigration officials at airports and other points of entries throughout the country going back to 2006, his complaint states.—
David Goodhue
August 25,
Miami Herald,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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