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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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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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
-
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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Prions behave differently than viruses and bacteria and are virtually impossible to eradicate.—
Jim Robbin,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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In recent days the Trump administration and Musk have moved to eradicate the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance worldwide.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Superintendent Moore is very popular among the miners here, and so much feeling was aroused over the killing that officers took Barnes to the jail in Ozark tonight as a precaution against violence.—
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
arkansasonline.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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After the sentencing for Dobson's killing, he was accused of angrily breaking a sprinkler head in his holding cell, which flooded the courtroom.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Congressional Record noted that the mine shortened the war by at least a year and saved 1 million American soldiers’ lives.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Feb. 2025
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The project also includes curb extensions to shorten crossing distances.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Those odds dropped slowly with each game Ovechkin missed due to a fractured left fibula until all progress from his hot streak was erased.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
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That’s surrender — to the idea that this is a zero-sum war where one side must be erased for the other to survive.—
Hen Mazzig,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Show organizers said that profits will be donated to charities, including Cure Parkinson's.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
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Numbers in 2022 included a gross profit of 27.9% and a net profit of 7.6%, according to Kuklock.—
Alex Malm,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians.—
TIME,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
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The film is written, directed, produced, shot and edited by Das.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Feb. 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 14 Feb. 2025.
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