1
as in scrubbing
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
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2
as in removing
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
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Recent Examples of cleaning
An old toothbrush is helpful for cleaning tight areas.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
When the bubbles stop, use a clean cloth to wipe away the stain and cleaning residue.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
After the tick has been removed, the CDC recommends cleaning your hands and the bite with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Read on for the best budget-friendly gadgets, from car-cleaning putty gel to space-saving hat racks.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Just avoid natural stone materials like marble, which can react poorly to many cleaning products.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
On May 6, 2016, Kianna and her sister, Miah, were home cleaning the house for Mother’s Day while Fiona was work.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
But even in the necessary first step of cleaning data, researchers make decisions that can steer the results.
—Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Armadillo has a pretty helpful guide to cleaning your rug on their website.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
When the bubbles stop, use a clean cloth to wipe away the stain and cleaning residue.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
After the tick has been removed, the CDC recommends cleaning your hands and the bite with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Read on for the best budget-friendly gadgets, from car-cleaning putty gel to space-saving hat racks.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Just avoid natural stone materials like marble, which can react poorly to many cleaning products.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
On May 6, 2016, Kianna and her sister, Miah, were home cleaning the house for Mother’s Day while Fiona was work.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
But even in the necessary first step of cleaning data, researchers make decisions that can steer the results.
—Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Armadillo has a pretty helpful guide to cleaning your rug on their website.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning
Verb
-
Add a few drops of mild detergent to warm water and blot the stain with a microfiber cloth rather than scrubbing it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
-
Many of the cleaning home habits people rely on every week — from scrubbing grout to running a steam mop — can quietly wear down floors, fixtures and appliances.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The Armorer says that after removing his helmet, he can only be redeemed by bathing in the Living Waters on Mandalore.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Georgia governor has signed a bill that expands the state’s medical cannabis program, easing access to cannabis vapes and removing the THC potency cap.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The Moon in Taurus moves through your 4th House of Home, drawing attention to comfort, family, and emotional foundations.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported new hantavirus cases in Spain and France, drawing attention to the rare but potentially severe disease, which can cause serious respiratory complications in humans.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Removing fallen leaves and rinsing away dirt prevents excess nutrients from collecting in the water.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
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Start by rinsing the vinyl siding with the garden hose and attached spray nozzle.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Verb
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And a system that works for Californians instead of extracting from them.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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That lets the term be understood in a range of ways, whether a corporate-friendly approach to conservation, or a new way to talk about extracting marine resources, sustainably or otherwise.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Other ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and glycerin simultaneously soothe and hydrate the skin while cleansing.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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While the norm is that a toner should be an astringent that removes grime and dirt while balancing the pH, Korean toners work to give the skin instant hydration as the first step after cleansing with a face wash.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Tempo didn’t make things easy, cutting the deficit to two points late and later trailing by just three with 31 seconds remaining and possession of the ball.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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The bridge demonstrates a new, lighter approach to low-carbon infrastructure, cutting waste and CO₂ by depositing concrete only where needed.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
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So, the league is washing its hands of what the Chargers or any other teams might do to troll the Patriots.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Modern Perspectives on Laundry Sorting With the growing popularity of large-capacity front-loading washers in the late 1990s, consumers welcomed the possibility of washing all of the dirty laundry in the hamper at the same time.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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