cleaning (up)

verb

Definition of cleaning (up)next
present participle of clean (up)
1
as in tidying (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 censoring
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 eradicating
to destroy all traces of hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning (up)
  1. censoring
  2. shortening
  3. erasing
  4. abolishing
  5. destroying
Verb
  • Guadagnino was unfazed, suggesting that censoring things only makes people want to see them more.
    Rich Juzwiak, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
  • The admittance was a win for House Republicans, many of whom have accused major tech companies of censoring conservative viewpoints.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
Definition of censoring
Verb
  • Targeting thiol-regulating processes in TB bacteria could lead to treatment-shortening therapies.
    Tom Howarth, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
  • Technology is shortening the lifespan of knowledge, skills, and even entire professions.
    Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Definition of shortening
Verb
  • When news of the investigation became public, the price of the company’s stock plunged, erasing nearly $25 billion in shareholder value, according to the lawsuit.
    Amy Julia Harris, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Christina Haack is one step closer to erasing Josh Hall permanently.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Definition of erasing
Verb
  • Perkins, a city commissioner since 2016, supports abolishing the contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office in favor of a city police force.
    Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Stein has called for abolishing student and medical debt.
    Margie Cullen, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
Definition of abolishing
Verb
  • At its peak, the wildfire that ignited Monday expanded at an alarming rate, consuming an area larger than five football fields per minute and destroying at least seven structures.
    Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The wildfire ignited Monday and has expanded at an alarming rate, burning more than 3,000 acres with 0% containment and destroying at least seven structures.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of destroying
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near cleaning (up)

cleaning (out)

cleaning (up)

cleaning up one's act

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Cite this Entry

“Cleaning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning%20%28up%29. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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