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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in killing
an exceptionally large return
The couple made a cleanup when they flipped the house.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The recipe only calls for one pot, so in addition to being a hearty side for your party, it’s got minimal cleanup involved.
—Nick Siano, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
On Thursday, Newsom signed a $2.5 billion wildfire recovery and cleanup package hours after its passage by the Legislature.
—Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
The city is expediting debris cleanup and installing concrete barriers in burn areas.
—Karina Tsui, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clean (up) 
Noun
The Fayetteville Recycling and Trash Collection Division will no longer host spring and fall bulky waste cleanup events in each of the city's four wards, according to a news release from the city.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The recipe only calls for one pot, so in addition to being a hearty side for your party, it’s got minimal cleanup involved.
—Nick Siano, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
On Thursday, Newsom signed a $2.5 billion wildfire recovery and cleanup package hours after its passage by the Legislature.
—Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
The city is expediting debris cleanup and installing concrete barriers in burn areas.
—Karina Tsui, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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It was censored to comply with Beijing’s laws, and in 2009, was a major search engine in China with about 36% market share.—
Zen Soo,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
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The Communications Act clearly prohibits the Commission from censoring broadcasters and the First Amendment protects journalistic decisions against government intimidation.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The theory holds that a community that rids itself of petty crime, such as shoplifting, vandalism and trespassing, can eradicate more serious crime because criminals won’t have anywhere to hide.—
JULIE K. BROWN,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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Its achievements include eradicating smallpox and bringing polio to the brink of elimination.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He was charged in the additional killings of 18-year-old Jill Barcomb, 21-year-old Jill Parenteau, 27-year-old Georgia Wixted and 32-year-old Charlotte Lamb after new DNA evidence connected him to the victims.—
Mollie Markowitz,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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Now investigators in at least three countries, including the United States, are sorting through a rogues’ gallery of players, trying to determine how the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, 53, was carried out on July 7, 2021.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The importance of love, and just seeing each other as human beings and how love can kind of shorten the gap of any divide between people.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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After a lost 2023-24 season shortened by injury, the 6-foot-5 guard is back to being a terrific, efficient scorer and playmaker.—
Sam Vecenie,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship threatens to erase the futures of countless children—children whose potential will go untapped, whose contributions to art, science, and justice might never be realized.—
Paola Mendoza,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
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Despite that, Djokovic played well enough to erase a deficit and overcome Alcaraz in four sets.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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JPMorgan's profit rose to a record high in 2024 as its dealmakers and traders reaped a windfall from rebounding markets in the fourth quarter.—
Pritam Biswas and Nupur Anand,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
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Both efforts reflect growing dissatisfaction with Boohoo’s direction from its investors, as the business struggles to reverse sliding profits and restore market confidence.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians.—
Helen L. Murphey / Made by History,
TIME,
29 Jan. 2025
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This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The president, however, doesn’t have the authority to abolish the agency by executive order.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
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In 1981, President Reagan went on a crusade to abolish the NEA, with multiple plans to break it apart, ranging from an immediate halt to halving its budget.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
1 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 8 Feb. 2025.
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