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 Hand soap is meant for clearing surface dirt, cleaning expert Andy Wray says. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Blood Similar to cleaning urine stains, if the blood on your mattress is fresh, then start the process by soaking up excess liquid with a paper towel before cleaning the area. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026 Summary An 11-year-old Ontario entrepreneur, Ashton Meyer, transformed his $10 bin cleaning side hustle into a viral success, gaining over 110,000 Instagram followers. — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 When cleaning your microwave, don’t forget to remove the glass turntable and clean it thoroughly as well. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026 Sanitation workers were cleaning the area, cutting down trees, and erecting a new fence and lock to keep out trespassers. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 But Airbnb has acknowledged guest frustration over cleaning fees and advises hosts that setting them too high can discourage bookings. — Mike Winters, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 Specialised cleaning agents imported from Western suppliers are also reportedly required for some engine-maintenance operations. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 As with almost all single-chip LCD models, the Boom Air comes with a cleaning kit of swabs on sticks for removing dust specs from the LCD if needed. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning

Verb

Soak pans before cleaning them, and turn off the faucet when scrubbing.

— Simmone Shah, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Wipe the solution off with water and a microfiber cloth, scrubbing at the grimy parts.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrubbing

Verb

Although invisible, the bacteria from your cleaning rag (for instance) can easily transfer to other surfaces, even after rinsing.

— Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026
For best results, the brand recommends massaging a dollop into the scalp for two full minutes before rinsing it out.

— Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of rinsing

Verb

There is a danger in drawing comparisons between current events and the Nazi Holocaust, but there is a greater danger in ignoring the similarities.

— David Pollak, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
But not before the former cheerleader caught a pass from Tebow and immediately did a split, drawing cheers from her favorite quarterback.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drawing

Verb

Against that backdrop, Pina’s speech asserted the platform should be regarded as a partner to television, rather than a tech giant extracting audiences and value from it.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Lynn was reluctant to take credit for extracting the performance from Curry.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of extracting

Verb

Guidance from the American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes a wearer washing their hands thoroughly with fragrance-free soap and water before touching the eye area to insert lenses.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
An employee was washing and rinsing mixing bowls in the front hand wash sink.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of washing

Verb

Furthermore, Bailey stated that simply not cutting rates already constitutes monetary policy tightening.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Enacting a solution is liable to be a significant political battle, likely involving cutting benefits for some Americans or raising taxes on higher earners, or both.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026