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
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Recent Examples of cleanly
Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
Other options like the fall apart-tender pork belly taco, topped with sour-sweet tamarind salsa, cleanly acidic gooseberry salsa, and bright serranos round out the thoughtful menu at Guerilla Tacos.
—Javier Cabral, Bon Appétit, 21 July 2023
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
This allows both employers and employees to sever the relationship more cleanly, without automatically running afoul of various labor laws.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
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
Other options like the fall apart-tender pork belly taco, topped with sour-sweet tamarind salsa, cleanly acidic gooseberry salsa, and bright serranos round out the thoughtful menu at Guerilla Tacos.
—Javier Cabral, Bon Appétit, 21 July 2023
Adjective
For all the praise that Betts got for putting on the wheel play in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Muncy still had to field Bryson Stott’s bunt cleanly and fire a perfect throw to third.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
This allows both employers and employees to sever the relationship more cleanly, without automatically running afoul of various labor laws.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
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For starters, while the complaint repeatedly refers to most states allowing high school athletes to sign NIL deals, that line of attack could be dismissed as legally irrelevant.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The movement's website explicitly discourages participants from bringing weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Only 46% of Madagascar has access to drinking water, only 15% have an adequate sanitary system, and as a result, children are more prone to chronic illness and malnutrition.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
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In Utah, like Rocky Mountain National Park, basic park services such as search-and-rescue and sanitary needs have been covered by fee revenue collected by the parks prior to the shutdown.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Premier League football in the 2000s could be dramatic and explosive, but what the nostalgia for that era ignores is the number of dour, sterile games there were, many of them settled by a goal from a set piece.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Together, the two components promise a more hygienic, user-friendly, and sustainable alternative to traditional menstrual products.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
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According to Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, eating with your hands is hygienic (after having washed your hands, of course) and beneficial to your senses and digestion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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Always test the paint on a pure white backdrop so underlying colors don’t distort the white shade.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are lined up to start for the Dodgers – and will meet them in San Diego well-rested and untainted by the lackluster effort at Coors Field.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
22 Aug. 2025
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These estimates also included assets untainted by any obvious exploitation of the Presidency, such as properties that Trump owned before entering office, or fees paid by resort customers who simply want to play golf or book a hotel room.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Pre-washed greens, like those in salad kits, aren’t immune to these issues.—
Danielle Zickl,
Health,
26 Sep. 2025
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Nothing is pre-washed and none of the ingredients for my recipes were pre-cut.—
Alexis Berger,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The music, fashion, and wholesome friendship work together to tell the kind of Disney Channel story teens will both connect with and find entertaining.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
10 Oct. 2025
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Swim in the indoor pool, toast marshmallows over the fire, and enjoy wholesome dining options.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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