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
Relevance
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 (up)
Matt Lehman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Also, cleanup afterwards may be more arduous since guests have spent time in multiple spaces.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
The Civilian Climate Response Corps would bring in mobile tool libraries to drive around the community and lend the tools for homeowners and renters to start the cleanup safely, with the appropriate tools and instructions on their safe use.
—David Bainbridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
Former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso is launching a non-profit that aims to pressure the government to expedite the cleanup and recovery in the wake of January’s devastating L.A. fires.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
In a public/private partnership, developers invest in the real estate while the city acquires and assists with cleanup and infrastructure.
—Matt Lehman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Also, cleanup afterwards may be more arduous since guests have spent time in multiple spaces.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
The Civilian Climate Response Corps would bring in mobile tool libraries to drive around the community and lend the tools for homeowners and renters to start the cleanup safely, with the appropriate tools and instructions on their safe use.
—David Bainbridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
Former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso is launching a non-profit that aims to pressure the government to expedite the cleanup and recovery in the wake of January’s devastating L.A. fires.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
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
-
As individual actors retreat to the sidelines or censor themselves, societal opposition weakens.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Who Makes the Best of Things Image On Thursday, the United States was insisting that a standard-issue statement from the Group of 7 nations, drafted by Canada to mark the third anniversary of the invasion next Monday, should be drastically shortened.—
David E. Sanger,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Governor Maura Healey signaled an intent to resist an order from the U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration threatening to pull federal funding from schools that do not erase any trace of diversity, equity and inclusion policies in a statement Monday.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
That helped offset a 5.5% drop for Conagra Brands, which lowered its forecasts for upcoming profit and other financial measures.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Captions were provided by the photographers and have been lightly edited for style and clarity.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Here are the highlights from that interview, with answers edited slightly for length and clarity.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
But Reagan faced a Democratic House of Representatives that objected, and by 1984, the GOP had abandoned its call for abolishing the department.—
Richard Stengel,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Moreover, the president has intertwined his calls to abolish the $268 billion bureaucracy with attempts to leverage it to advance his own agenda.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
13 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 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share