1
as in scrubbing
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removing
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
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Recent Examples of cleaning
Vents And Grilles Undertake this deep-cleaning task to prevent dust and hair from blowing around the house.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Blanca gets paid under the table by cleaning and cooking for neighbors.
—Gisela Salomon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The brand recommends spot cleaning with mild detergent when needed for easy maintenance.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Follow our step-by-step guide to cleaning cast iron, including drying it completely over low heat.
—Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
Modern inkjets, including ink tank printers, will rarely force you to spend time cleaning with manual commands.
—PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Blanca gets paid under the table by cleaning and cooking for neighbors.
—Gisela Salomon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The brand recommends spot cleaning with mild detergent when needed for easy maintenance.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Follow our step-by-step guide to cleaning cast iron, including drying it completely over low heat.
—Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
Modern inkjets, including ink tank printers, will rarely force you to spend time cleaning with manual commands.
—PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning
Verb
-
Follow this by scrubbing with soapy water.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Our editors have been sharing cleaning advice for more than a century, but not all of the scrubbing methods have stood the test of time.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the building feels temporary, with United having previously discussed removing it.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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More than 200 bodies are still on the mountain, left there because of the difficulty, risk, and cost of removing them, the database says.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
How much is the Mega Millions drawing jackpot on Friday, 10/3/25?—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Perhaps there’s a haunting to be had in this injustice; perhaps these war dead, with the truth of their deaths hidden and covered up at the time, have left their own ghostly imprint upon the bay, drawing forth further inexplicable sights, sounds, and activity.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Drain the berries in a colander in the sink, rinsing them with a light spray of running water.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Drinking it less often, enjoying it with meals or rinsing your mouth out with water after drinking may lessen such adverse effects.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Democrats, still reeling from drawing widespread criticism for helping Republicans avoid a shutdown in March, appeared committed this time to not give in without extracting concessions on health care and other priorities.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
While cracks and surface defects caused by traffic and environmental stress are easy to spot, detecting micro-cracks and damage in the lower layers still requires drilling and extracting core samples.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As far as use goes, the brand suggests cleansing as usual before using the bar as a second cleanse to kill the acne-causing oils and bacteria and offer deeper exfoliation.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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LaVon suggests gently cleansing the scalp with a refresher spray after sweating, followed by a few drops of lightweight oil like grapeseed.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Little River Canyon National Preserve introduces visitors to a magnificent gorge that was created by the Little River cutting across the top of Lookout Mountain.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
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The trial was designed to appeal to cash-conscious customers, who’ve been cutting eating out from their budgets, hurting restaurants’ profits.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The group sees ample opportunity for partnership with some of the denim industry’s leading finishing innovators, who have worked to replace stone-washing techniques—which are polluting and water-guzzling—with lasers to achieve whiskering and distressing.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Sep. 2025
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To maintain its quality, the brand suggests washing it separately in cold water on a gentle laundry cycle.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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