Synonyms of clean

clean 1 of 3

adjective

ˈklēn 

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

• pristine
• immaculate
• spotless
• stainless
• spick-and-span
• squeaky-clean
• shiny
• unsullied
• spic-and-span
• unsoiled
• milky
• chaste
• unstained
• pure
• sanitary
• antiseptic
• sparkling
• sterile
• bright
• snowy
• hygienic
• unpolluted
• flawless
• fair
• cleanly
• white
• untainted
• wholesome
• washed
• cleansed
• undefiled
• bleached
• scrubbed
• purified
• germfree
• unblemished
• whitened
• taintless
• abluted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unclean
• filthy
• stained
• soiled
• foul
• uncleaned
• grubby
• muddy
• spotted
• dingy
• grimy
• greasy
• unwashed
• polluted
• mucky
• sullied
• tainted
• besmirched
• smirched
• blackened
• unsterilized
• discolored
• unsterile
• defiled
• germy

2

as in legal

following or according to the rules

a clean check from the other hockey player

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legal
• fair
• moral
• ethical
• honorable
• sportsmanly
• sportsmanlike
• scrupulous
• just
• unimpeachable
• principled
• irreproachable
• law-abiding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unfair
• foul
• nasty
• wrong
• vicious
• immoral
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• unsportsmanlike
• unprincipled
• unrighteous

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

• pure
• immaculate
• modest
• chaste
• decent
• decorous
• virginal
• spotless
• vestal
• virgin
• unblemished
• untainted
• stainless
• unsullied
• G-rated
• untarnished
• unsoiled
• proper
• unspotted
• unstained
• harmless
• refined
• undefiled
• lily-white
• tasteful
• cultivated
• seemly
• inoffensive
• innocent
• innocuous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• unclean
• filthy
• coarse
• impure
• obscene
• indecent
• vulgar
• stained
• smutty
• soiled
• immodest
• unchaste
• tainted
• improper
• tarnished
• spotted
• blemished
• unseemly
• crude
• indelicate
• ribald
• indecorous
• defiled
• sullied
• tacky
• tasteless
• unrefined

4

as in thorough

trying all possibilities

police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thorough
• extensive
• complete
• comprehensive
• sweeping
• exhaustive
• total
• thoroughgoing
• full-scale
• systematic
• wide
• out-and-out
• all-out
• general
• inclusive
• broad
• methodical
• far-reaching
• wide-ranging
• methodic
• global
• in-depth
• unhampered
• unrestrained
• no-holds-barred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• random
• haphazard
• shallow
• aimless
• superficial
• desultory
• limited
• cursory
• narrow
• hit-or-miss
• restricted
• slipshod

5

as in simple

having no exceptions or restrictions

the clean joy of running that young children experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• simple
• complete
• pure
• unconditional
• utter
• sheer
• absolute
• perfect
• very
• total
• definite
• damn
• damned
• thorough
• outright
• real
• flat
• deadly
• unadulterated
• blank
• crashing
• huge
• regular
• profound
• stark
• plumb
• fair
• downright
• thoroughgoing
• consummate
• dreadful
• unqualified
• dead
• unmitigated
• categorical
• endless
• blooming
• unalloyed
• constant
• genuine
• flat-out
• stone
• rank
• authentic
• bodacious
• straight-out
• horrible
• out-and-out
• all-out
• categoric
• arrant
• terrible
• classic
• perpetual
• eternal
• veritable
• unrestricted
• main
• extreme
• unremitting
• hopeless
• terrific
• extraordinary
• confirmed
• undying
• habitual
• supreme
• superlative
• inveterate
• frightful
• surpassing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncertain
• questionable
• doubtful
• restricted
• qualified
• dubious
• equivocal

6

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present

the ship returned with a clean hold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devoid
• empty
• barren
• blank
• bare
• vacant
• drained
• vacuous
• stark
• emptied
• void
• open
• clear
• toom
• hollow
• dry
• available
• free
• uninhabited
• deserted
• depleted
• unoccupied
• vacated
• unfilled
• unattended
• unfurnished
• abandoned
• exhausted
• forsaken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• full
• complete
• provided
• furnished
• replete
• occupied
• filled
• supplied
• flush
• packed
• overflowing
• teeming

clean

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to wipe

to remove the dirt from

we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wipe
• scrub
• rinse
• tidy
• cleanse
• wash
• brush
• turn out
• purge
• deterge
• decontaminate
• purify
• disinfect
• sweep
• sanitize
• vacuum
• mop
• GI
• shampoo
• dust
• launder
• comb
• freshen
• swab
• brighten
• sponge
• scour
• straighten (up)
• spruce (up)
• sweeten
• deodorize
• dry-clean
• muck (out)
• unclutter
• pick up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• soil
• spot
• stain
• besmirch
• sully
• foul
• muddy
• pollute
• taint
• defile
• begrime
• discolor
• blacken

2

as in to remove

to take the internal organs out of

cleaned the rabbit before cooking it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remove
• draw
• cut
• extract
• eviscerate
• gut
• excise
• disembowel
• bone
• dress
• withdraw
• transplant
• yank

clean

3 of 3

adverb

1

as in legally

according to the rules or the law

a boxer who doesn't fight clean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legally
• cleanly
• fair
• fairly
• morally
• ethically
• honorably
• nobly
• high-mindedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• illegally
• unethically
• ignobly
• immorally
• dishonorably
• underhandedly

2

as in completely

to a full extent or degree

the thief got clean away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• completely
• fully
• quite
• perfectly
• totally
• utterly
• fast
• all
• thoroughly
• well
• wholly
• wide
• even
• absolutely
• entirely
• out
• exactly
• entire
• enough
• flat
• dead
• full
• for fair
• soundly
• at length
• to pieces
• in whole
• all over
• all the way
• down to the ground
• basically
• to bits
• down the line
• heartily
• plumb
• altogether
• cold
• plain
• through and through
• mostly
• to the max
• to the hilt
• all of
• substantially
• generally
• downright
• largely
• mainly
• predominantly
• primarily
• categorically
• predominately
• principally
• stone-cold
• generously
• unqualifiedly
• by and large
• chiefly
• overall
• abundantly
• hands down
• stone
• greatly
• more or less
• copiously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partially
• partly
• halfway
• just
• half
• slightly
• barely
• minimally
• hardly
• superficially
• marginally
• scarcely
• incompletely
• somewhat
• part
• approximately
• roughly
• kind of

Try This Instead

For

Try This

clean water

uncontaminated water

drinkable water

safe water

fresh water

accessible water

clean air

non-polluted air

pollutant-free air

unpolluted air

pristine air

pure air

clean energy

green energy

sustainable energy

renewable energy

low-pollution energy

alternative energy

clean rooms

spotless rooms

immaculate rooms

unoccupied rooms

white rooms

intact rooms

clean lines

perfect lines

flawless lines

nice lines

crisp lines

simple lines

Examples of clean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

In addition to repairing the cracks, experts have also cleaned the statue using laser technology and installed a carbon fiber pole in the figure’s back to help anchor it. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024

Before your exam, the dental hygienist thoroughly cleans your teeth and applies fluoride to prevent tooth decay.4 Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics to treat periodontal disease, pericoronitis, and irreversible pulpitis. —Laura Schober, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

Adverb

But the bill, headed for a Senate vote this week, falls far short of President Joe Biden's pledge to transform the nation’s heavily fossil-fuel powered economy into a clean-burning one and stop climate-damaging emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035. —Matthew Daly, Chron, 7 Aug. 2021

The candles are made mostly by artisan candlemakers and are clean-burning and free of some of the most common toxic ingredients. —Amanda Prahl, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2023

Phrases Containing clean

• clean (up)
• clean bill of health
• clean house
• clean up one's act
• come clean (about)