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
Examples 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)
Jessica Trufant, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Chapters are typically action-driven, and activities often include volunteer projects like street cleanups, food bank support and community gardening.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
Hayden contends the state’s toxic substance regulators have not overseen a proper cleanup of the warehouse site and the surrounding area.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
In the aftermath of the hurricane, Stiver slept in his tent outside the hostel and helped in the cleanup efforts around Erwin for two weeks.
—Graham Hurley, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up) 
Noun
Cleanup of animals is underway Brookline police also said local residents wanted to help with the cleanup and treatment of the animals, but were denied due to safety reasons.
—Jessica Trufant, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Chapters are typically action-driven, and activities often include volunteer projects like street cleanups, food bank support and community gardening.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
Hayden contends the state’s toxic substance regulators have not overseen a proper cleanup of the warehouse site and the surrounding area.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
In the aftermath of the hurricane, Stiver slept in his tent outside the hostel and helped in the cleanup efforts around Erwin for two weeks.
—Graham Hurley, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump's orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan's scrutiny of Big Tech firms.CBS News, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Mace is among several conservatives who have claimed social media platforms are censoring their content and viewpoints.Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
On this day in 1979: Scientists declared that smallpox had been eradicated about a dozen years after the World Health Organization intensified its vaccination push and prior requirements in many countries in the Americas and Europe.Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2024
-
In the 1950s, an ambitious international campaign was launched to eradicate the insect in the north and center of the continent.Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Dawson fled the resort by kayak to a nearby island after the killing.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
-
The homicide figures do not include killings that occurred in self-defense or in other circumstances not measured in Chicago police statistics.Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This gives districts the flexibility to extend the school day and shorten the week.Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
-
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
-
One dud doesn’t erase the good performances Young has put on tape over the past month.Joseph Person, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
-
In August, the Taliban published vice laws that ban women’s voices and bare faces in public in an effort to completely erase Afghan women and girls from public life.Brian Cheng, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
While Gamuda reported unexciting results on Thursday, with net profit rising 5% year-on-year to 205.4 million ringgit in the three months ended October despite a 47% jump in revenue to 4.1 billion ringgit, Kenanga’s Teh projects stronger earnings ahead for the company.Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
At the end of the day, O'Mara says, all the powerful tech companies want is to keep growing their size, influence and profits, and executives are hoping Trump will not interfere with the industry's expansion.Bobby Allyn, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity.Megan Poinski, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
-
Disney declined comment on the nature of the specific storyline that was cut or how much was edited or removed, but confirmed its removal.Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Rankin believed that without a widespread moral awakening, the prospect was slim that slavery could be abolished.TIME, TIME, 2 Dec. 2024
-
Kash Patel vows to abolish the ‘deep state’; Trump’s FBI pick thrills MAGA base Robby Soave and Steven Olikara weigh in on Donald Trump’s nominee to spearhead the FBI, Kash Patel.The Hill, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2024
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 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share