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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleaning
Dilute your cleaning solutions and don't forget to rinse and dry when you're finished.
—
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 20 June 2026
Scott Schrader is the chief marketing manager at the home-cleaning company CottageCare in Colorado.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026
Their distinctive appearance and behavior help client fish recognize them as cleaning partners rather than prey.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
Best Early Amazon Prime Day Home Deals Amazon is overflowing with deals to keep your home spotless, including the Bissell Little Green Mini Cleaner for spot cleaning tough stains on upholstery and the Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum.
—Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
When cleaning, spread a towel on countertops and trims to protect them from water and cleaners.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
The project to renovate the Reflecting Pool included draining, cleaning and refinishing.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 20 June 2026
When cleaning an oven with vinegar, choose standard household white vinegar and avoid concentrated or high-strength formulas.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
Once, toward the end of WWII, when my father and grandmother were in an air raid shelter, a few Russian soldiers came in, sat in the middle of the room and started cleaning their rifles.
—Alex Poppe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 20 June 2026
Scott Schrader is the chief marketing manager at the home-cleaning company CottageCare in Colorado.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026
Their distinctive appearance and behavior help client fish recognize them as cleaning partners rather than prey.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
Best Early Amazon Prime Day Home Deals Amazon is overflowing with deals to keep your home spotless, including the Bissell Little Green Mini Cleaner for spot cleaning tough stains on upholstery and the Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum.
—Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
When cleaning, spread a towel on countertops and trims to protect them from water and cleaners.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
The project to renovate the Reflecting Pool included draining, cleaning and refinishing.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 20 June 2026
When cleaning an oven with vinegar, choose standard household white vinegar and avoid concentrated or high-strength formulas.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
Once, toward the end of WWII, when my father and grandmother were in an air raid shelter, a few Russian soldiers came in, sat in the middle of the room and started cleaning their rifles.
—Alex Poppe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 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,
14 June 2026
-
But some of us are still scrubbing away at stains, thinking that is the only way to get rid of them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Crews are focusing on the 15 feet along the roadsides, trimming trees that are still alive to help prevent fire from laddering into the crowns and removing dead trees.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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In fact, according to Rakestraw, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming the babies have been abandoned and removing them immediately.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Gently rub while rinsing to remove any dirt or excess fuzz.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
Allow the solution to sit and break down stains for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Baladi Coffee Found in Kennesaw, Baladi Coffee offers one of the exurb’s most distinctive Middle Eastern coffee experiences, drawing heavily from Egyptian and Palestinian cultural traditions.—
Christopher Hassiotis,
AJC.com,
18 June 2026
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In the first half of an October friendly between the two sides, played in Colorado, Australia’s Jason Geria slide-tackled Christian Pulisic with extra force, and clipped him again later on, drawing a yellow card.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Charcoal lends an extra purifying boost, while hydrolyzed keratin smooths frizz and softens hair after cleansing.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
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An amuse bouche opened the meal, a palate-cleansing sorbet marked the end of the dinner and the beginning of dessert, and a little treat, and the end felt like a festive way to linger a little longer and celebrate a special meal.—
Christine Sarkis,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Designed for all ages, the fair features activities and games rooted in science, technology, engineering, and math—from discovering native plants to extracting DNA from apricots and exploring robotics.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
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The agreement appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return.—
Seung Min Kim,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Verb
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If possible, unpack directly into the washing machine and run clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes, both washing and drying.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
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Recharge the balls by washing them in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle, then air-dry or run them through a drying cycle on high heat.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The interim agreement to end the Iran war has already reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively closed, cutting the global economy off from significant supplies of oil and natural gas.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
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But after the cost-cutting trade of Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia, the depth chart for the edge rusher spots is thin.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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