as in legally
according to the rules or the law
it was a cleanly fought match, so you have no grounds for complaint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sanitary
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 cleanly
Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor got credit for singles when Antone and his infielders failed to play their bunts cleanly, with Sheets scoring the tiebreaking run on what appeared to be a safety squeeze attempt by Taylor.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
But the Petersons’ house tucks in cleanly to a new subdivision without an accessory dwelling unit or any sign that six adults spanning six decades live inside.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor got credit for singles when Antone and his infielders failed to play their bunts cleanly, with Sheets scoring the tiebreaking run on what appeared to be a safety squeeze attempt by Taylor.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Adjective
Among the 21 artists are Julia Chon and Dave Young Kim, who offer cleanly hard-edge paintings of, respectively, a woman in traditional garb and two storks below two strands of barbed wire.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
-
Rollins credited the administration's crackdown on fraud and recipients who aren't legally authorized to be in the country, as well as the new rules.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Today, only the Pamunkey and citizens of other tribes in Virginia can legally fish for shad in this region.—
Torben Rick,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Here's what our pros recommend for dusting your bedroom to keep it sanitary and easy to breathe in.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
It is treated similar to sanitary waste.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
That was eradicated a decade later only with the help of sterile flies, as the US and Mexico scaled up production to as many as 500 million insects a week.—
Ilena Peng,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
-
For shoppers chasing a fragrance that feels personal rather than sterile, 2026 is shaping up as the year of the bee.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cleaning routines ensure hygienic conditions for people and pets.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
-
From kitchen surfaces that collect crumbs to bathroom surfaces that accumulate bacteria and grime, certain spots around your home need routine cleaning to stay fresh and hygienic.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
The signature smart bed lifts at the head so guests can prop up and watch television, a feature born of pure necessity.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
At its purest level, football’s appeal lies in its universality.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Linger there for some stargazing beneath a sky totally untainted by light.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
-
The motion concluded an untainted special counsel was necessary because the issues involved allegations of contempt and misconduct at high levels in the Justice Department.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Pre-washed rice has already been rinsed, so washing it again is unnecessary.—
Aksha Mittapalli,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 June 2026
-
Or toss in pre-washed strawberries for your next picnic at the park.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
This extends to the series as well, which, refreshingly, forgoes the usual guns and gore for a more wholesome, cerebral, and darkly comedic take on the genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
Our love was so wholesome, with nothing to prove to ourselves or anyone else.—
Stephanie Mack,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
