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
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3
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
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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)
Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the more practical steps to undertake soon is a thorough cleanup of plant debris, weeds and remnant materials from last season.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
During the cleanup of the 2018 Camp fire, about one-third of the properties still contained toxic chemicals in excess of California cleanup standards, even after 3 to 6 inches of topsoil was removed, according to a report by a state contractor.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Few things bring a kitchen cleanup to a halt faster than an unresponsive garbage disposal.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Rather than relying solely on post-incident cleanup or one-off assessments, CTEM emphasizes a continuous, proactive cycle that unifies detection and prevention under one strategic umbrella.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the more practical steps to undertake soon is a thorough cleanup of plant debris, weeds and remnant materials from last season.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
During the cleanup of the 2018 Camp fire, about one-third of the properties still contained toxic chemicals in excess of California cleanup standards, even after 3 to 6 inches of topsoil was removed, according to a report by a state contractor.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Few things bring a kitchen cleanup to a halt faster than an unresponsive garbage disposal.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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Mahmoud believes that the raid on the Educational Bookshop is just another step in Israel's mission to censor Palestinian voices.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2025
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As individual actors retreat to the sidelines or censor themselves, societal opposition weakens.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump vowed to eradicate any signs of former President Joe Biden in his Department of Justice on Tuesday night.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
19 Feb. 2025
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Agency supporters told Democratic senators earlier this week that the shutdown — along with other administration steps, including revoking USAID’s lease on its Washington headquarters — was really about eradicating USAID before lawmakers or the courts could stop it.—
Ellen Knickmeyer,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Penny was acquitted last year in the 2023 killing of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
20 Feb. 2025
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Ten years ago, Carlton Mackey, like much of the country’s Black population, was overwhelmed with media images of death, anger and unrest in the wake of Michael Brown’s killing.—
Char Adams,
NBC News,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration's cuts to health research will shorten life expectancy and threaten the lives of all Americans, according to university union leaders and scientists.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Your team can shorten sales cycles and accelerate time to revenue by consolidating information across documents and applications—ensuring that everyone has access to accurate, real-time data.—
Rena Fallstrom,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This year's storms won't erase looming drought worries across the entire southwestern U.S., experts fear.—
Doyle Rice,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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This relevant and poignant wake-up call warns that one generation can erase a great nation.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
Fox News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Southwest last month reported fourth-quarter profits that surpassed Wall Street estimates, on the back of improved airfares and strong holiday travel demand.—
Deborah Sophia,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Its stock has quadrupled since the start of 2024, fueled by three consecutive quarters with a net profit of at least $150 million.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Captions were provided by the photographers and have been lightly edited for style and clarity.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Here are the highlights from that interview, with answers edited slightly for length and clarity.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the current administration under President Trump has moved to abolish federal DEI programs.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
28 Feb. 2025
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That was weeks after the end of the U.S. Civil War but months before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery nationwide.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to clean (up)
Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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