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cleaning (out)

verb

present participle of clean (out)
as in defrauding

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning (out)
  1. defrauding
  2. shortchanging
  3. cheating
Verb
  • Holmes was sentenced to more than 11 years in jail in 2022 for defrauding investors through her Theranos health startup.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • She was found not guilty on four other counts related to defrauding patients and the jury was deadlocked on the remaining three counts related to deceiving investors.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of defrauding
Verb
  • Ohio lawmakers approved an $875 million payment package Wednesday after the Ohio Supreme Court found the state used the wrong formula to calculate certain Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, shortchanging providers by hundreds of millions of dollars.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2026
  • Despite all of this, the market is still trying to figure out what Millrose is worth, and at around 9 times AFFO, Wall Street still might be shortchanging the REIT.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Definition of shortchanging
Verb
  • After a 7-6 debut season as the Volunteers head coach in 2009, Kiffin endeared himself to the Tennessee fan base by accusing former Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating during a recruiting battle.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Blatant, in-your-face lying, cheating and stealing is the norm.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheating
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cleaning (off)
cleaning (out)
cleaning (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cleaning (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning%20%28out%29. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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