cleanly 1 of 2

adverb

ˈklēn-lē How to pronounce cleanly (audio)
Definition of cleanlynext
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

cleanly

2 of 2

adjective

as in sanitary

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 cleanly
Adverb
Mistakes To Avoid When Making Chess Pie Huaman notes an ideal chess pie should be smooth and creamy, slice cleanly, and retain a custard-like texture. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026 Before evaluating any predictive or AI-orchestration vendor, map how cleanly data actually moves between your DSP, your CRM and your measurement layer. — Ivan Guzenko, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Director Jennifer Chang understands clearly and cleanly which moments need specific tones and moods. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
  1. legally
  2. sanitary
  3. sterile
  4. hygienic
  5. pure
  6. untainted
  7. washed
  8. wholesome
Adverb
  • The building didn’t just fall into disrepair but was legally condemned by the town of Branford due to fire safety and other code violations.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Klęczar said the attacker’s father legally owned more than 10 guns and that the attacker also owned firearms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of legally
Adjective
  • Attempting to de-escalate the scare, Rospotrebnadzor declared the regional sanitary situation stable after secondary testing showed no traces of dangerous pathogens linked to Shipilova’s research.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As the war raged on, this makeshift countermeasure was replaced by more sanitary and effective innovations, including gauze pads soaked in hyposulfite solution, flannel hoods, tube helmets, and box respirators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanitary
Adjective
  • Carson only had mere days to turn the sterile studio into something far cozier and conducive to the wide-ranging conversations Paltrow hoped to conduct during the show, which launches with Zoe Saldana as the first guest.
    — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Warm, earthy neutrals and cohesive, tone-on-tone palettes are replacing sterile grays and bold color blocking.
    — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of sterile
Adjective
  • Stalls will also have lockable, roll-gate doors and security cameras, so retailers can leave their products overnight, while a dedicated food hall ensures a safe and hygienic distance between food preparation and other market activities.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Swimsuits without hygienic liners are ineligible for returns or exchanges.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of hygienic
Adjective
  • However, removing these roses frees up space, reduces fungal disease and makes room for vigorous varieties that bring pure joy.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But with Anthropic poised to become the first pure-play AI company to hit the public market, minting a number of new billionaires and many more millionaires in the process, a heightened level of scrutiny is coming.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • Oh, and Reed told Helen that Wallace was likely to be rewarded for being untainted by scandal — next stop, ascending from secretary of state for Defence to prime minister.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • History has no need for spoiler warnings, but anyone hoping for an untainted experience of the film—a description that applies to no one who’s read this far—might want to skip over the facts that follow.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of untainted
Adjective
  • Made from naturally breathable, skin-friendly, pre-washed linen, the quilt is designed to hold up for years while growing softer with every wash.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As the Cyclospora outbreak grows, experts recommend washing all fresh produce that hasn’t been pre-washed—not just lettuce.
    — Sarah Garone, HEALTH, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of washed
Adjective
  • Musician Conan Gray went with a more wholesome approach, naming the more cozy than outright scary Practical Magic as his must-watch movie.
    — Charlotte Hu, Time, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The ghoul had become an emblem of desecration, a predator violating the boundary between life and death, a corruptor of what was wholesome and decent.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of wholesome

Browse Nearby Words

cleanliness
cleanly
cleanness
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Cite this Entry

“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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