as in legally
according to the rules or the law
it was a cleanly fought match, so you have no grounds for complaint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sanitary
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cleanly
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
His punches are not always cleanly directed and, on occasion, he can get caught underneath a crowded delivery — as below against Liverpool.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
Then, after Staal beat Elias Lindholm cleanly in the defensive zone, K’Andre Miller beat Swayman on a long screen shot.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
His punches are not always cleanly directed and, on occasion, he can get caught underneath a crowded delivery — as below against Liverpool.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Among the 21 artists are Julia Chon and Dave Young Kim, who offer cleanly hard-edge paintings of, respectively, a woman in traditional garb and two storks below two strands of barbed wire.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
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And many could lose access to benefits they're legally entitled to, said consumer advocates and health policy researchers, some of them with direct experience working at state agencies.—
Sam Whitehead,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Under state law, CTU also can’t legally organize a one-day strike on May 1, according to the memo.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For livestock, this would include potable water, sanitary living conditions and access to a windbreak such as a building or tree line.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Results showed 80% of respondents voted no, citing both sanitary and ethical concerns.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Navarro says that when every piece of décor is in matching pairs, the space can feel forced, overly staged, and even a little sterile.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
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Select vines that are sterile or have easy-to-remove seed pods.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Alongside the protest, organizers are collecting donations of clothes, hygienic products and food to stock community food boxes and to create care packages for in-need neighbors.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm, and not ill-intended.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
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Sitting at a baby grand piano, Mars prompted swoons with his delivery of the lyrics, his pure voice holding notes with the same muscularity as early in the show.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some are fortunate to have a source of clean water and pipes that ensure that water reaches residents' homes untainted.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reich acknowledges there's no form of untainted money.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Many people rely on pre-washed salad mix for its convenience.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Apr. 2026
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As far as the yellow bed sheets go, this feels like the truest butter yellow—still pastel but not white-washed.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Montgomery’s romantic pursuit seems so genuine and wholesome.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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Despite their questionable politics, something about the Millers’ wholesome, Christian contentment strikes a chord with Rue.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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