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
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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.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Officials stress that these precautions are designed to minimize risk during the cleanup.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
Then, last week, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works also took up the matter, paving the way for Thursday’s cleanup.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
After the dust settled, cleanup crews worked to clear debris and dust from the corner of Alton Road and Sixth Street near the entrance to the MacArthur Causeway.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Communities across the Midwest were starting the cleanup process Saturday after multiple tornadoes touched down and severe weather struck areas from the Great Lakes to Texas.
—Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Officials stress that these precautions are designed to minimize risk during the cleanup.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
Then, last week, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works also took up the matter, paving the way for Thursday’s cleanup.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
After the dust settled, cleanup crews worked to clear debris and dust from the corner of Alton Road and Sixth Street near the entrance to the MacArthur Causeway.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
The BBC‘s executive complaints unit (ECU) has ruled that failing to censor the N-word during the BAFTAs broadcast in February was indeed a breach of editorial standards, according to Variety.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post were among those that printed the word; others censored it with asterisks or dashes.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Images by Lisa Kristine were made possible by the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation in Partnership with Human Thread Foundation to eradicate slavery and human trafficking.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Treating the underlying condition eradicates the need for drug treatments that act globally.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Inspired by the espionage novel by Dan Fesperman, Safe Houses is set in the aftermath of the killing of a high-ranking CIA officer in Madrid.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
-
D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday, April 20.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In its major settlements with universities, the Administration has shortened the investigation stage and pushed for broad, often unrelated remedies.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This approach can dramatically shorten waiting times and, in many cases, save patients who may not survive the wait for a deceased donor organ.—
Dr. Hiroshi Sogawa,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This year was supposed to erase the memory of recent suffering or at least make up for it.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Rockets responded with runs in each half, outscoring the Lakers in the middle eight minutes and cutting it to 54-51 by halftime after erasing a 15-point deficit.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In February, O’Neil told the Financial Times that LIV was five to ten years away from turning a profit.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Royals plan to build an entertainment district around the stadium to generate steady profits, though the depths of those plans are not yet clear.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Abdul El-Sayed is gaining momentum in a divisive three-way Democratic primary with an uncompromising argument for clarity on progressive priorities — Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and ending US military aid to Israel.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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Mejía, who is more progressive than Sherrill, campaigned on policies including abolishing ICE and raising taxes on the wealthy.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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