as in legally
according to the rules or the law
it was a cleanly fought match, so you have no grounds for complaint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sanitary
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cleanly
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
As if in slow motion, the ball ricocheted off the rim and into the backboard before dropping cleanly through the net.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
Instead, Fland — the Gators’ best on-ball defender — allowed Stirtz to freely catch the ball cleanly.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
As if in slow motion, the ball ricocheted off the rim and into the backboard before dropping cleanly through the net.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Among the 21 artists are Julia Chon and Dave Young Kim, who offer cleanly hard-edge paintings of, respectively, a woman in traditional garb and two storks below two strands of barbed wire.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
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Sarmant said the legislation has raised fears among transgender people that they could be denied permission to legally purchase necessary medicines.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The piecemeal approval means homeowners in many parts of the city — particularly the Far Northwest Side, Southwest Side and South Side — still cannot legally build the units.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For livestock, this would include potable water, sanitary living conditions and access to a windbreak such as a building or tree line.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Results showed 80% of respondents voted no, citing both sanitary and ethical concerns.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Scientists have discovered more than 6,000 exoplanets to date, but the majority of them are probably sterile worlds.—
Joanna Thompson,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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The ones sold on the market were supposed to be sterile, meaning the seeds in the fruits weren’t supposed to germinate and grow.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Alongside the protest, organizers are collecting donations of clothes, hygienic products and food to stock community food boxes and to create care packages for in-need neighbors.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
28 Mar. 2026
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Unicharm could already turn these materials into other hygienic products like toilet paper, but a new ozone treatment designed to bleach, sterilize, and deodorize the pulp is widening the possibilities even further.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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With speed on the right wing as essentially a pure winger rather than her usual right-back role, Oke gave Reign’s defense fits, especially when another midfielder joined and created overloads.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Researchers in Germany are developing a new electrochemical method to coat fusion reactors with pure tungsten.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some are fortunate to have a source of clean water and pipes that ensure that water reaches residents' homes untainted.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reich acknowledges there's no form of untainted money.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As far as the yellow bed sheets go, this feels like the truest butter yellow—still pastel but not white-washed.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
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Better Homes & Gardens Paisley Medallion Cotton Quilt To keep you cool throughout the warmer seasons, the BHG x Walmart quilt is made from 100% cotton with a pre-washed and pre-shrunk cotton fill for maximum softness, comfort, and breathability.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Moreover, the trim little contraption cut a wholesome figure reminiscent of a Richard Scarry book—as if a courtesy tram birthed a tiny Zamboni.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The wellness-forward, fast-casual eatery priortizes wholesome ingredients and offerings that don’t compromise on flavor.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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