1
as in tidying (up)
to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff
you're expected to clean up after you use the workroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in censoring
to remove objectionable parts from
cleaned up the rock star's interview before publishing it in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning (up)
Verb
-
Professors are censoring themselves in lectures and rewriting syllabuses.—
Bruce Schneier,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026 -
Residents began self-censoring in private chats and deleting posts out of fear of reprisal.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Blaine begins to relentlessly beat Sam in retaliation for eradicating his wife, Anneliese.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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The new state consumer services agency will focus on eradicating junk fees, increasing online privacy protections and overseeing oil companies, according to Newsom’s office.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The theory is that a flat organization boosts agility by shortening decision chains and putting leaders closer to frontline employees and the customer experience.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
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Companies shortening depreciation schedules may be signaling conservatism and discipline.—
Brian Anderson,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Brought in to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning, Scott gave up three runs, including two on a home run by Edmundo Sosa, erasing an excellent start from Roki Sasaki and ending the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak with a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
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Shop wrinkle-erasing retinol treatments, glowy skin boosters, foundation-replacing skin tints, and more from just $7.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Be sure to give your eyes time to adjust and use your phone's camera to scan the sky, as your phone's camera is better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
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Residents, businesses and organizations are also invited to participate in the department’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline awareness campaign by picking up a 988 yard sign at the county office at 2170 Point Blvd.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Dario Amodei, co-founder of Anthropic, has been outspoken about the risks of artificial intelligence wiping out half of all entry-level jobs and driving unemployment up by 20%.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
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In power since 1994, he has been accused of flagrant human rights violations against his critics, wiping out opposition and independent media.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The most prominent of these activists is Joyce McMillan, who, after her own children were taken and returned, founded JMACforFamilies, an organization with the goal of abolishing the child-protective system altogether.—
Larissa MacFarquhar,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
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While politicians can write all sorts of legislation meant to keep kids off smartphones and away from apps, games, and content not appropriate for them, merely writing a law is not the same as abolishing a market.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
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For a few minutes at each end of that window, the moon’s edge will appear to align with that of the sun, blotting out the star’s fierce light and revealing the wispy corona off to one side.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Apr. 2026
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From up in the space shuttle, in 1983, astronaut Sally Ride could see the pollution blotting out her Los Angeles hometown.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cleaning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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