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
Example 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)
Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the more practical steps to undertake soon is a thorough cleanup of plant debris, weeds and remnant materials from last season.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
During the cleanup of the 2018 Camp fire, about one-third of the properties still contained toxic chemicals in excess of California cleanup standards, even after 3 to 6 inches of topsoil was removed, according to a report by a state contractor.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Few things bring a kitchen cleanup to a halt faster than an unresponsive garbage disposal.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Noun
Rather than relying solely on post-incident cleanup or one-off assessments, CTEM emphasizes a continuous, proactive cycle that unifies detection and prevention under one strategic umbrella.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the more practical steps to undertake soon is a thorough cleanup of plant debris, weeds and remnant materials from last season.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
During the cleanup of the 2018 Camp fire, about one-third of the properties still contained toxic chemicals in excess of California cleanup standards, even after 3 to 6 inches of topsoil was removed, according to a report by a state contractor.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Few things bring a kitchen cleanup to a halt faster than an unresponsive garbage disposal.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
-
Many Republicans have spoken out against any group or agency that could be perceived as censoring conservative voices.—
Karen Hao,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Trump’s media company sued a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, accusing him of censoring right-wing voices on social media.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In places where measles have largely been eradicated, cases have been spread by travelers from other countries.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Or for whatever reason, your particular brand of BV or yeast may just need a stronger or longer dose of meds to eradicate.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Last month 10 former New York corrections employees were indicted in the killing of Robert Brooks, an inmate violently beaten while handcuffed in a prison infirmary in December.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Migrant arrivals at the U.S. border are at their lowest in years, and last week, Mexico extradited 29 cartel figures to the U.S., including the man involved in the 1985 killing of a DEA agent.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
That intermingled production ecosystem represents a whopping $20 billion in trade, and the interest in shortening supply chains that has taken hold in recent years has spurred consistent investment across the region.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The city moved up and shortened the celebration’s two biggest parades, hoping to wrap them up before high winds moved in.—
Jeff Martin and Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The footage was erased but during an investigation the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau was able to recover it.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The Sharks erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, killed off a penalty in overtime, and saw Tyler Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund both score goals in the shootout to earn a dramatic 3-2 win over the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.—
Curtis Pashelka,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Putting aside the many risks, there are clearly vast profits to be made in doing business with Russia, which incidentally also has the world’s fourth biggest reserves of rare earths, far bigger than Ukraine’s.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
-
As part of the request, which was filed to state regulators Friday, the company is seeking a rate of shareholder profit with a midpoint of 11.9% — well above the national average.—
Emily L Mahoney,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But as their power supplies wane, scientists are saying goodbye to one instrument on each spacecraft By Meghan Bartels edited by Clara Moskowitz NASA’s most distant observers are losing steam as the toll of spending nearly five decades in space adds up.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2025
-
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the current administration under President Trump has moved to abolish federal DEI programs.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
28 Feb. 2025
-
That was weeks after the end of the U.S. Civil War but months before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery nationwide.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
26 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 11 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share