1
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
2
as in removing
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of cleaning
From clever cleaning hacks to quick household fixes, this everyday appliance is a surprisingly helpful and versatile tool for a range of tasks.
—
Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Avoid using excessive amounts of water and harsh cleaners when cleaning since excess moisture and chemicals can warp the wood.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
In fact, several tasks are better left for a different time of year, don’t need cleaning at all, or simply don’t benefit from being tackled solely in the springtime.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
How to get rid of fruit flies To quickly eliminate fruit flies, start by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and removing overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Prevent dirt and grime buildup by cleaning the floors regularly.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Avoid using excessive amounts of water and harsh cleaners when cleaning since excess moisture and chemicals can warp the wood.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
In fact, several tasks are better left for a different time of year, don’t need cleaning at all, or simply don’t benefit from being tackled solely in the springtime.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
How to get rid of fruit flies To quickly eliminate fruit flies, start by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and removing overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Prevent dirt and grime buildup by cleaning the floors regularly.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning
Verb
-
Dish soap’s surfactants bind to grease and water, lifting grime without scrubbing.—
Mallory Carra,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Users can use them for quick changes or for scrubbing audio in a podcast or song.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the reservoirs of the Republican and Democratic voters evaporate, independents are becoming a stream of optimism for removing the wasteful and destructive policy of the two-party war that is pushing us further apart.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
-
How to get rid of fruit flies To quickly eliminate fruit flies, start by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and removing overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That particular corner was filled with pink shirts and defeated faces, and Salloi stood in front of them, fingers in the corners of his mouth, drawing his smile wide like the Joker.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The Clippers went ahead by four on free throws from Mathurin and Jones, but Murray drove for a dunk and hit a three before drawing the foul by Jones on a last-ditch attempt from beyond the arc.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For extra protection, Stowell suggests soaking strawberries in a mixture of one part white vinegar to three parts water for five to 10 minutes, then rinsing thoroughly.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Pine-Sol advises wiping your vessel inside and out with a little of the product on a cloth or paper towel and rinsing with water to get them back in shape.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Microbes could be the future space miners, helping humans survive on long-term missions by extracting mineral resources from extraterrestrial rocks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Opening up new mining operations would be in keeping with the founding directive of the Forest Service, which mandates the balance of protecting resources and extracting them.—
Lauren Steele,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This drugstore pick is especially designed for anyone experiencing mild or normal shedding due to breakage and helps restore strength by using gentle surfactants while cleansing.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
20 Feb. 2026
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These trends are like the hair equivalent of taking a deep, cleansing spring breath.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On one sequence Harding made a perfect bounce pass to a cutting Edmonds, who dunked over a West Virginia defender.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Go easy on the buffing Some people also like to buff their nails after cutting, and a light buff can promote healthy growth and increase shine.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By washing white rice, the excess starch is washed off, as well as any oxidized rice bran oil coating the outside, which can add an unpleasant flavor to the cooked rice.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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Drying Dishes The classic movie dishwashing scene shows one person washing dishes and another drying them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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