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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
For that reason, keep your pets out of the kitchen during food prep and cleanup, away from the holiday table and out of the garbage.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
The plastic — salvaged from a waste site and beach cleanup in Cape Town — is melted down into a black goo and turned into sculptures, Olivier tells Axios.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
While the bill was passed without objection, not all lawmakers agree that the cost for cleanup should fall on the taxpayers.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up) 
Noun
The bill would provide $100 billion in funds for cleanup after devastating Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which rocked Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and other Southern states, as well as other disasters.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
For that reason, keep your pets out of the kitchen during food prep and cleanup, away from the holiday table and out of the garbage.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
The plastic — salvaged from a waste site and beach cleanup in Cape Town — is melted down into a black goo and turned into sculptures, Olivier tells Axios.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
While the bill was passed without objection, not all lawmakers agree that the cost for cleanup should fall on the taxpayers.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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The organization said laws in both states censor certain books in public schools.Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
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Schmitt, the former Missouri attorney general who helped engineer a lawsuit accusing the Biden administration of censoring conservatives with the help of social media platforms, sent the letter to Schumer on Thursday.Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Individual errors cannot be eradicated entirely, but must be reduced.Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
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Smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1980, but stocks of the virus still exist in U.S. and Russian biocontainment facilities.Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Dawson fled the resort by kayak to a nearby island after the killing.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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The killing took place at Turtle Island Fiji, a luxury resort that offers private villas to 14 couples at a time.Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This gives districts the flexibility to extend the school day and shorten the week.Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
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Additionally, their ability to thrive in low-oxygen environments might reduce the stress that would otherwise shorten their life expectancy.Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One dud doesn’t erase the good performances Young has put on tape over the past month.Joseph Person, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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There’s no way to completely erase remote work—while companies may implement a complete return to office, ignoring the value many employees place on working from home means potentially losing great talent and sacrificing productivity.Liz Elting, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Industrial profits are a key indicator of the financial well-being of factories, utilities and mines in China.Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024
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Selling an academy graduate would represent ‘pure profit’ from a PSR perspective, so Newcastle would have to consider offers for Sean Longstaff.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity.Megan Poinski, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Scientists can edit the genes of the pig to reduce the risk that a human body will reject its organ.Jen Christensen, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Some critics want to abolish the agency altogether.Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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India proposed in July to abolish its 2 percent equalization levy.Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 24 Dec. 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 30 Dec. 2024.
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