1
as in to tidy (up)
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 to censor
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 to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in killing
an exceptionally large return
The couple made a cleanup when they flipped the house.
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 clean (up)
Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Not only does using the slow-cooker make cleanup a breeze but cooking low and slow creates juicy, tender results that everyone will be talking about.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
His work helps establish when the damage would have occurred, which insurers were on the hook, and the extent of cleanup that would be required.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The monumental cleanup of the Seine, allowing public swimming after a century, may be the most visible symbol of what's possible when a city truly commits to sustainability.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
The cleanup site, a patch of land along Cabrillo Memorial Drive, was a disposal site for construction and demolition rubble between 1955 and 1965.
—Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Not only does using the slow-cooker make cleanup a breeze but cooking low and slow creates juicy, tender results that everyone will be talking about.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
His work helps establish when the damage would have occurred, which insurers were on the hook, and the extent of cleanup that would be required.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The monumental cleanup of the Seine, allowing public swimming after a century, may be the most visible symbol of what's possible when a city truly commits to sustainability.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
In truth, Lebanese law does not censor nudity or online pornography.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The report found of the 329 Ohio State students who responded, 43% reported self-censoring on campus.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In that time, the potentially fatal disease has been virtually eradicated among American children.—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Although interest in Russian Cosmism was quickly eradicated, the movement has acquired new life in the 21st century.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the days following his killing, conservative activist Charlie Kirk has, in a sense, become all things to all people.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Attorney General Pam Bondi is under scrutiny over her comments about cracking down on certain rhetoric in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, marking the latest controversy of her own making.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mishkin also wasn’t persuaded there were exigent circumstances to warrant shortening the 15-day window.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Overnight humidity recovery should help shorten the burn period and reduce maximum spread distances.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just weeks ago, gas was 10% cheaper than last year; that was erased.—
Matt Randolph,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Kris Mitchell erased Chambers’ records two years later, and Eric Rivers did it again last season.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In August, the president announced a deal between the federal government and Nvidia, allowing the American chip producer to sell advanced semiconductors to Chinese buyers in exchange for a 15% cut of the profits.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Finally, profits should be adequately reinvested in the company with the goal to support cash generation in time.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The network denied the claims but admitted it was edited due to time constraints.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Iranian authorities must immediately implement a moratorium on all executions and abolish the death penalty.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The Department of Labor withdrew a plan to establish a minimum wage for workers with disabilities and abolished wage protections for the home-health aides who assist millions of seniors and disabled people.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share