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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the clean joy of running that young children experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the ship returned with a clean hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wipe
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in legally
according to the rules or the law
a boxer who doesn't fight clean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
the thief got clean away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
In 2024, Uniqlo — another major mall brand, hailing from Japan, built on clean basics for everyone — hired Clare Waight Keller, former Givenchy and Chloé creative director.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Europe’s excess spending on fossil fuels since the Russia-Ukraine War amounted to about 40% of the investment needed to transition its power system to clean energy, according to a 2023 study.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
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
Director Liz Diamond makes sure the comedy is clean and colorful and fast-paced and very funny.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
In 2024, Uniqlo — another major mall brand, hailing from Japan, built on clean basics for everyone — hired Clare Waight Keller, former Givenchy and Chloé creative director.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
Pressurized helium is routinely used in rockets to push propellants to engines and to help clean and dry tanks and propellant lines when needed.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Europe’s excess spending on fossil fuels since the Russia-Ukraine War amounted to about 40% of the investment needed to transition its power system to clean energy, according to a 2023 study.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
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
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Of course, no Texas road trip would be complete without a stop at Buc-ee's—the legendary Texas travel stop known for its enormous gas stations, spotless bathrooms, snack walls, and enough brisket sandwiches and beaver nuggets to fuel the rest of your journey.—
Kat Stinson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Talarico has been an ardent supporter of expanding legal gambling during his tenure in the Texas legislature.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
-
And what about the legal liability of the state if something goes wrong or an agent is improperly charged?—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Investigators suspected Austin's story was pure fiction.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
True, Shakespeare had added the characters of Touchstone and Jacques, thus mocking the sport of love and misting it in disillusionment; but most of the plot is pure Lodge.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In his announcement about the theft, Oseguera said there will be a thorough review of all PTA financial procedures.—
Cameron Macdonald,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rooms Hotel Thaynes has 128 guest rooms, including six king suites, each designed for simple mountain stays with subtle pops of colors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Such a vote — which is bound to fail but would put senators on the record — differs from using a simple majority to change the Senate rules, a vote a senator could force after an unsuccessful vote to break a filibuster.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Verb
-
Johnson then raised both arms above her head to acknowledge the roaring, standing crowd before pulling her jersey up over her face to wipe her eyes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The race to wipe Chavez from public view is the easy part, said Catherine Gudis, professor of history and director of the Public History Program at UC Riverside.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Israel and Hezbollah did agree to a ceasefire in November 2024, which called for Israel to stop its military campaign and to remove their ground forces in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah to willingly move all of its personnel and military equipment north of the Litani River.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The point is not to turn the home into a fortress but to remove single points of failure.—
Neal K. Shah,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
