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
Sara Aparacio, a resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow, equates scrubbing an appliance with an abrasive sponge to rubbing it with very fine sandpaper.
—
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
In fact, the common liquor, distilled from grains or potatoes, can be a natural alternative to many synthetic cleaning products and an inexpensive, shelf-stable swap in a pinch.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
This one task on your spring cleaning checklist takes about an hour — and the payoff lasts for months.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
After cleaning, use a second cloth dampened with plain water to wipe away any leftover soap.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
Turns out, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is basically the floor-cleaning equivalent of a secret service agent.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
Ledges and Edges Door frames, windowsills, picture frames, and other ledges and edges where dust settles are easy to overlook when cleaning.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Strong cleaning agents can worsen allergy symptoms rather than relieve them.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Don’t forget your rugs, Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, a home cleaning company that cleans over 600 homes a month.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
In fact, the common liquor, distilled from grains or potatoes, can be a natural alternative to many synthetic cleaning products and an inexpensive, shelf-stable swap in a pinch.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
This one task on your spring cleaning checklist takes about an hour — and the payoff lasts for months.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
After cleaning, use a second cloth dampened with plain water to wipe away any leftover soap.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
Turns out, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is basically the floor-cleaning equivalent of a secret service agent.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
Ledges and Edges Door frames, windowsills, picture frames, and other ledges and edges where dust settles are easy to overlook when cleaning.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Strong cleaning agents can worsen allergy symptoms rather than relieve them.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Don’t forget your rugs, Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, a home cleaning company that cleans over 600 homes a month.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning
Verb
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Abadi says scrubbing too aggressively is another common mistake.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
-
To use a melamine sponge to get rid of stubborn stains, simply wet the sponge lightly and get scrubbing.—
Aliyah Rodriguez,
The Spruce,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He is then seen slowly approaching the victim, checking his surroundings, and removing his shoes before grabbing her from behind.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The surgery involved removing 40 percent of Erbert's skull and required a follow-up skull implant surgery, per the Los Angeles Times.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The invite-only event has become one of the festival's hottest gatherings, drawing top artists from the labels and festival lineup alike.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The big key, however, was Aurora Christian drawing 15 walks and also getting plunked once by a pair of Trinity Christian pitchers.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To cut down, Denver has asked its restaurants to only serve water to customers by request and encouraged residents to use more efficient commercial car washes, rather than rinsing off their car with buckets in the driveway.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
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Raw meat was frozen in trash bags and an employee washed dishes without rinsing them.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And the largest tech companies in the world are extracting profit from it?—
Mark Olsen,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, many collagen supplements are made by extracting collagen from the bones, skin, and feet of chickens.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Use it after cleansing and prepare to be wowed by how smooth your skin feels.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This nourishing cleansing oil provides deep hydration for youthful, healthy-looking skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This is an unsustainable path if the state hopes to avoid cutting health, education and other priorities.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Another option is to remove some of the pups, by cutting under the plants, and gathering the leaves with roots.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Still washing dishes in the bathtub.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
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An employee was washing their hands with gloves on.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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