1
as in cleans house
to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff
you're expected to clean up after you use the workroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in censors
to remove objectionable parts from
cleaned up the rock star's interview before publishing it in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in erases
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleans (up)
Verb
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In 2019, the state passed a law that censors me from saying certain things to my clients.—
Megan Schrader,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This turnover erases institutional knowledge, disrupts relationships, and leads to inconsistent policy enforcement.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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Undue’s bulk purchase of debt affords them a substantial discount, so every donor dollar erases around $100 in debt.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Whether arriving early shortens my wait depends on when others choose to arrive, and if all tourists follow the same internet advice and arrive an hour early, the lines at opening may be the longest of the day.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
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Beyond nutrition, the EUSD Farm to School program also reduces packaging waste, shortens food miles and donates surplus produce to local food banks and community resource centers.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bonacini wants gold — a sterilizing cure that eradicates every trace of the virus and cannot return.—
Jia H. Jung,
Mercury News,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, this measure abolishes them.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
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The Iranian parliament has just approved a law that abolishes prison sentences for those who had to leave Iran illegally.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Hinton, a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and a former Google executive, has warned in the past that there is a 10% to 20% chance that AI wipes out humans.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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That timeline could shrink if a massive fraud wipes out public confidence in the Internet.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
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Once in place, the device releases liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures as low as –170°C to form an ice ball that destroys the tumor cells.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cleans (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleans%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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