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
Brown noted that Fortescue generates offense just by cleanly transitioning pucks out of the defensive zone. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Courts have long held that a driver on a public road has no reasonable expectation of privacy, but McKenna argues that no longer holds up cleanly. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Aug. 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
  • OpenAI and Microsoft do not dispute that its models trained on the news outlet's content, but argue that doing so is legally permissible.
    — Greta Reich, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The franchise legally resides in Utah, which has one of the lowest minimum wage laws in the country.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of legally
Adjective
  • 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
  • Here’s what our pros recommend for dusting your bedroom to keep it sanitary and easy to breathe in.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanitary
Adjective
  • Decades ago, the creation and release of sterile flies to interrupt the pest’s breeding cycle was key to driving it out.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Principal Andrew Kearl said work went into making sure the school, which has nearly 1,400 students, felt warm rather than sterile, the way new buildings sometimes can.
    — Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of sterile
Adjective
  • Once dry, the items can remain protected inside the machine in a hygienic storage environment supported by a medical-grade HEPA filter.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Associated Press visited a school in Nuwakot that is being used as a temporary aid distribution center, where nongovernmental organizations distributed solar panels, clothes and basic hygienic goods.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hygienic
Adjective
  • Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, Bier recognizes the pure joy of seeing these women drinking margaritas again, resulting in a vivid and sweet celebration that gradually reframes aging as a process of gaining power rather than losing it.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • In theory, this untainted market response can then guide Fed officials debating whether to raise or lower rates.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Linger there for some stargazing beneath a sky totally untainted by light.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 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
  • The collections feature recycled and organic fabrics and dyes, while the mood is wholesome, romantic and youthful.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Robin Morgan, a wholesome child star of the 1940s and ‘50s who grew up to become an all-American radical as a poet, essayist, editor and second-wave feminist, has died.
    — Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2026.

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