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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in legal
following or according to the rules
a clean check from the other hockey player
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the clean joy of running that young children experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the ship returned with a clean hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wipe
to remove the dirt from
we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to take the internal organs out of
cleaned the rabbit before cooking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in legally
according to the rules or the law
a boxer who doesn't fight clean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
the thief got clean away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
clean water
clean air
clean energy
clean rooms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean
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
Colleen Wright, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Learn how to clean your mattress with baking soda to remove odors, stains, and allergens naturally.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 June 2025
Gannon Burgett, Car and Driver, 28 Mar. 2023
These services sell carbon credits offered by NGOs and governments that, using offset proceeds, plant mangroves, distribute clean-burning stoves, preserve grasslands, and install digesters to capture cooking gas from manure among other types of projects.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
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
And residents have recently complained the city isn’t cleaning drainage ditches.
—Colleen Wright, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Learn how to clean your mattress with baking soda to remove odors, stains, and allergens naturally.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 June 2025
Adverb
Natural Gas: Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel source that is generally less expensive than other fuels.
—Gannon Burgett, Car and Driver, 28 Mar. 2023
These services sell carbon credits offered by NGOs and governments that, using offset proceeds, plant mangroves, distribute clean-burning stoves, preserve grasslands, and install digesters to capture cooking gas from manure among other types of projects.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for clean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean
Adjective
-
Walk into the reception of the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University and your eyes are drawn immediately to a pristine glass cabinet on the left.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
-
His pristine basketball sneakers were oddly bright in a room that has since receded into shadow in my memory.—
Danielle Ofri,
New Yorker,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several legal challenges to this practice are now pending in federal courts.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
In documents submitted to the court this week, the president’s lawyers argued that such conditions did exist in Los Angeles, making the deployments legal.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps the truth, however, is that Emmanuel-Thomas, in pure sporting terms, has always been something of a puzzle.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
Vionic Uptown Loafer The Vionic Uptown Loafers look like pure business on the upper, but the sole offers all the comfort and flexibility of a sneaker.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
That means conducting a thorough review of your business finances, including cash inflows and outflows.—
Wayne Anderman,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to experiencing a surge of sensual energy with greater emphasis on life’s simple pleasures, Venus in Taurus has everything to do with feeling grounded and finding stability in both love and finances.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 June 2025
-
White is easy, simple, and many times, the best choice for a clean slate.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Or has this show wiped Big from everyone’s memories?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
-
Either way, finish the process by wiping the area down with clean water and drying with a towel to remove any remaining moisture.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
To remove that barrier, managers can ensure their team receives basic AI literacy and capability training.—
Heide Abelli,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent a licensed trapper to remove the injured alligator, officials said.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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