CLEANING Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

cleaning

verb

present participle of clean

as in scrubbing

to remove the dirt from we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in removing

to take the internal organs out of cleaned the rabbit before cooking it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cleaning Always follow the siding manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations first. — The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026 Sullivan began her chores, which included cleaning the home’s windows. — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 Kia does not specifically recommend nitrogen tire inflation, transmission flushing, or fuel induction cleaning as part of the normal maintenance schedule. — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026 Everyone, meanwhile, can enjoy the simple, perfect sight gag of a voluptuous sheep cleaning a blackboard with her ample fleece. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 Rubber or silicone gloves for protection while cleaning or doing the dishes. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 18 Sep. 2026 Dip your microfiber cloth into the mixture and apply it to the zellige tiles, cleaning in gentle circles. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026 Abby was cleaning the upstairs guest room when she was struck as many as 19 times with a hatchet. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026 Others were quiet about the fact that their fathers worked in factories and their mothers as cleaning women. — Gloria Steinem, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning

Verb

Focus on crevices and edges where grease and debris tend to accumulate, but avoid scrubbing too harshly.

— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
Take care of spills immediately and do those quick weekly checks, so your quarterly clean becomes much more about refreshing and reorganizing versus a full day of scrubbing away months of buildup.

— Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrubbing

Verb

However, the debate in Europe is not about completely removing the EU AI Act.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026
In recent weeks, SOUTHCOM has also released several videos showing military personnel intercepting and boarding vessels allegedly involved in narco-trafficking before removing their crews and sinking the boats.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of removing

Verb

The gentle, foaming elixir feels soft on skin, rinsing away dirt and makeup while hydrating and coddling with flaxseed oil.

— Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
Prepare the sprouts for storage by rinsing and draining the sprouts thoroughly, then laying them out on a dish towel to dry for an hour or so.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of rinsing

Verb

Its leader, Elif Eralp, pledged to make Berlin affordable again, drawing comparisons with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

— Esme Nicholson, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
In many ways, helped by Brexit, Art Basel Paris has become a favorite event within the Art Basel fair franchise, drawing over 73,000 visitors plus representatives from over 240 museums last year, according to organizers.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of drawing

Verb

Henry says that cleansing too aggressively can contribute to barrier disruption as well.

— Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2026
Kansas’ Union soldiers, who were known as Jayhawkers, responded by cleansing three Missouri counties along the border and stacking a similar number of dead bodies in retaliation.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of cleansing

Verb

IvyCraft interprets document layouts, page structures, and images instead of extracting text alone.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
The exotic premise is developed with relentless seriousness, even severity, extracting deep pathos from the characters’ eerie reckonings.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of extracting

Verb

Additionally, the project’s closed-loop water system prevents nutrients from washing into nearby rivers, where runoff from conventional cotton production can contribute to eutrophication.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
From SheetsGate to purposefully washing Joy’s uniforms with rags, the laundry room has unleashed something deranged in Gen.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of washing

Verb

Three people were arrested earlier this week after Woodland police found heavy-gauge copper wire and cutting tools in their vehicle near a community center where wiring had been stolen from about 10 light poles, authorities said.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
My focus is cutting traffic gridlock through AI light synchronization, equipping police with advanced tech, protecting residential zoning against over-development, and streamlining municipal permitting with strict fiscal accountability.

— Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026