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
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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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
But as Columbia Business School professor Shivaram Rajgopal notes, Johnsen’s task goes beyond the usual pre-IPO cleanup of controls and unit economics.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 June 2026
TetraTech, the company that was doing the cleanup along the Lower Fox River, picked the lowest level needed in its health and safety plan.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 June 2026
One week before he was sentenced to jail, Rice underwent a cleanup surgery on his right knee, ESPN reported.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
County leaders are debating whether to continue having a role in the cleanup of Piney Point, a toxic industrial site near Tampa Bay that’s in the midst of lengthy shutdown process.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
But as Columbia Business School professor Shivaram Rajgopal notes, Johnsen’s task goes beyond the usual pre-IPO cleanup of controls and unit economics.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 June 2026
TetraTech, the company that was doing the cleanup along the Lower Fox River, picked the lowest level needed in its health and safety plan.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 June 2026
One week before he was sentenced to jail, Rice underwent a cleanup surgery on his right knee, ESPN reported.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines, so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child's profile.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Once established, the mollusks are extremely difficult to eradicate and can damage drinking water systems, irrigation infrastructure and hydroelectric facilities while disrupting native aquatic ecosystems.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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This neighborhood plan mimics ones used to eradicate the insects on islands.—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
The killing is Kansas City’s 61st homicide of 2026, according to data tracked by The Star.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
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About 12 hours before the Carter Park killing, a man was found shot to death at a condominium in the 4000 block of Ridglea Country Club Drive in west Fort Worth, police said.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Sean Combs is getting his sentence shortened.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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That increases visibility and shortens the time needed to attract qualified applicants.—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The Lynx erased the Sparks’ 7-3 lead — fueled by quick starts from Burrell and Hamby.—
Jordan Puente,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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But the improvement was not enough to erase the lead held by opponents, according to an analysis of vote updates monitored by The Bee over the past two weeks.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Her practice spans royalties and profit participations, motion picture and television contracts, intellectual property disputes, reputation protection and new media and technology matters.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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Universal isn’t the only studio reeling in profits from the reimbursement scheme.—
Christian Sylt,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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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,
17 June 2026
-
This interview has been edited and condensed.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The story of Maria José of Savoy, who served as queen of Italy after World War II for only 27 days before Italians voted to abolish the monarchy, is set to be the subject of a new historical drama.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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In 1926, diplomats gathered beneath the high ceilings of the League of Nations in Geneva to draft the world's first international treaty abolishing slavery.—
Nicole F. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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