1
as in pristine
free from dirt or stain
although the soccer team always starts out with clean uniforms, they don't stay that way for long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in legal
following or according to the rules
a clean check from the other hockey player
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pure
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent
only clean songs will be permitted for the performances on the last night of summer camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the clean joy of running that young children experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the ship returned with a clean hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wipe
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in legally
according to the rules or the law
a boxer who doesn't fight clean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
the thief got clean away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
clean water
clean air
clean energy
clean rooms
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
Emma Seymour Feb 3, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2023
Under the auspices of the Sustainable Marblehead Beach Cleaning team, led by Pam Roberts, groups of volunteers clean at least one beach in Marblehead each week, year-round.
—Bette Keva, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Toni Sutton, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
One night at dinner, a server picked up my dirty glasses (Rai’s favorite teether), cleaned them, and tightened the screws.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
Time, 21 Oct. 2022
BioLite’s innovative solar, power, and cookstove products make great backpacking companions, but its household products are also directly changing lives in communities where people lack access to electricity, artificial lighting, and clean-burning stoves.
—Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 28 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
Adjective
Also known as overlock machines, sergers create strong, durable seams and help produce clean fabric edges.
—Emma Seymour Feb 3, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2023
Under the auspices of the Sustainable Marblehead Beach Cleaning team, led by Pam Roberts, groups of volunteers clean at least one beach in Marblehead each week, year-round.
—Bette Keva, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Verb
Having the right products on hand can make spring cleaning less daunting.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
One night at dinner, a server picked up my dirty glasses (Rai’s favorite teether), cleaned them, and tightened the screws.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
Adverb
These services sell carbon credits offered by NGOs and governments that, using offset proceeds, plant mangroves, distribute clean-burning stoves, preserve grasslands, and install digesters to capture cooking gas from manure among other types of projects.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2022
BioLite’s innovative solar, power, and cookstove products make great backpacking companions, but its household products are also directly changing lives in communities where people lack access to electricity, artificial lighting, and clean-burning stoves.
—Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 28 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean
Adjective
-
This is a battle of the league's best and worst three-point shooting teams, as Orlando has hit just 30.9 percent of its triples, the worst mark in the NBA, while Cleveland is shooting a pristine 39.0 percent from three in 2024-25, the league's tidiest rate.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Hay Island, a pristine 18-acre piece of land that is hidden near Long Island Sound, has listed for $35 million.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The future of digital governance The legal battle over platform regulation is not confined to the current battle between U.S.-based platforms and Brazil.—
Camille Grenier,
The Conversation,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore agreed in 2021 to buy the team from Glen Taylor over the course of four transactions, and they’ve been locked in a legal battle for the past year.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As a pure runner, though, Giddens is impressive, showing off great speed and vision.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The heartbreak is immense, but as Ellie so perfectly pointed out, the Winnie-Bubba reunion had to be pure magic.—
Karen Fratti,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Both have earned our Editors' Choice award after thorough testing.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
19 Mar. 2025
-
First, conduct a thorough assessment of your existing infrastructure and define clear integration requirements before deployment.—
Gegham Azatyan,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Pair them with a simple T-shirt to grab a coffee at a cafe.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Jenner wore a gray and lightly checked car coat, a simple black knit sweater, straight leg blue jeans, and black ballet flats.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Give it a good scrub, then use a cloth or mop to wipe it down with clean, warm water.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2025
-
There was the first video review of a goal, wiping another SDFC score off the board.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In other instances, including the president's attempt to invoke the wartime Alien Enemies Act to remove certain migrants, judges have issued temporary restraining orders that prevent enforcement of a policy, typically for 14 days, to allow for further proceedings.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2025
-
McCall underwent a six-hour operation back in November to remove the 14mm benign cyst from her brain.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share