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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Graham Hurley, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
The Gowanus Canal is a 1.8-mile-long former industrial transportation route and the site of a $1.5 billion federal environmental cleanup started in 2020.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 15 Nov. 2024
Yet the city of San Diego had to spend its own money on the cleanup itself.
—Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Most trails in the park will be closed during the hunt, but many are already closed as cleanup from tornadoes on May 26 continues.
—Flip Putthoff, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up) 
Noun
Just like hiking the Appalachian Trail, volunteers and officials agreed the repairs and cleanup after Helene’s havoc would be a complex journey for the trail’s enormous community.
—Graham Hurley, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
The Gowanus Canal is a 1.8-mile-long former industrial transportation route and the site of a $1.5 billion federal environmental cleanup started in 2020.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 15 Nov. 2024
Yet the city of San Diego had to spend its own money on the cleanup itself.
—Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Most trails in the park will be closed during the hunt, but many are already closed as cleanup from tornadoes on May 26 continues.
—Flip Putthoff, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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The film was re-edited and censored by twelve minutes following widespread backlash, according to industry analyst Sreedhar Pillai.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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The horse who played Lil’ Sebastian had to be censored for looking too excited on camera The beloved Pawnee town mascot, miniature horse Li'l Sebastian, only appears in the flesh in a single episode.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Our rating: False The World Health Organization declared smallpox officially eradicated in 1980.Chris Mueller, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Nov. 2024
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These efforts are a part of Paul Quinn’s broader mission to eradicate generational poverty.Melissa Noel, Essence, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The trial of two police officers accused in the killing of Herman Whitfield III began Monday.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024
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The national animal welfare organization is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and make the country no-kill in 2025.Saman Shafiq, The Courier-Journal, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For instance, Alinta can shorten to Lin while a baby named Dianella can be called Ella for short.Sherri Gordon, Parents, 2 Dec. 2024
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The central pendant can be removed and worn as a brooch, the necklace shortened and worn as a bracelet.Anthony DeMarco, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Advertisement Politics Climate change could erase the Pacific islands.Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
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But Syracuse quickly erased it, tying the score at 21-21 on McCord’s second touchdown pass of the game 39 seconds into the second half.Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Strong profits in 2023 led Stellantis to pay Tavares €36.5 million in total compensation, which comes to $38.4 million at current exchange rates.Chris Isidore, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
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As the Wall Street Journal notes, in July, the company reported that its net profit for the first half of the year had dropped by 48 percent compared to 2023.Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians.Laura-Zoë Humphreys and Daymar Valdés Frigola / Made by History, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
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This edition of Forbes Daily was edited by Sarah Whitmire, Chris Dobstaff and Caroline Howard.Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Tesla billionaire spent Thanksgiving with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. MORE: Some ethics experts raise concerns over Musk and Ramaswamy's Department of Government Efficiency roles Earlier this week, Musk proposed abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2024
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His transition team is reportedly working on plans to abolish the tax credits and to roll back the more stringent fuel-economy rules that were pushed through by the Biden administration.Tom Krisher, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
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