as in withdrawal
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1
as in dispersing
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in departing
to leave a place often for another
the lunch crowd usually clears out by 2:00 p.m. at the latest
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clearing out
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
In response to the city clearing out the Cedar Avenue occupation, the activist organizations behind the blockades complained on social media about MPD officers dismantling three different roadblocks.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Why is China clearing out its generals?
—TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite the holiday season clearing out offices, sending thousands on vacation, and shutting down stores early, CEOs tell Fortune their work lives are still intense.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Rake It Flat After clearing out the weeds and plant debris from your beds, use a rake to smooth the soil and break up any clumps of dirt.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
My mother passed away recently, and my brother, who lives nearby, is clearing out her house.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Before a school day starts, the guard will be tasked with clearing out the lot to prevent it from blocking students getting into school.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
These are the result of moles clearing out excess soil from deeper excavations, says Owen.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Since the offseason began chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has swung a league-high 12 trades, completely revamping the club’s pitching staff while clearing out a number of depth pieces who no longer factored in to the club’s future.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
In response to the city clearing out the Cedar Avenue occupation, the activist organizations behind the blockades complained on social media about MPD officers dismantling three different roadblocks.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Why is China clearing out its generals?
—TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite the holiday season clearing out offices, sending thousands on vacation, and shutting down stores early, CEOs tell Fortune their work lives are still intense.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Rake It Flat After clearing out the weeds and plant debris from your beds, use a rake to smooth the soil and break up any clumps of dirt.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
My mother passed away recently, and my brother, who lives nearby, is clearing out her house.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Before a school day starts, the guard will be tasked with clearing out the lot to prevent it from blocking students getting into school.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
These are the result of moles clearing out excess soil from deeper excavations, says Owen.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clearing out
Noun
-
The last-minute entry caps a chaotic week of candidate withdrawals, with Bass facing mounting criticism over the city’s Palisades fire response.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
It’s been very sobering for people who’ve devoted their lives to these issues to suddenly see this withdrawal of global support.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fit for purpose Next-gen designs could boost those gains by dispersing battery material around drone frames, electric motors, or other surfaces.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Some officers then deployed pepper balls, dispersing the crowd.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Later, Hamilton parts the sea on his kick scooter, speedily escaping from the hectic press area.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The magistrate and her elderly mother were held for 30 hours in a garage in southern France’s Drôme region before escaping, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One glaring problem is found in Olde Town Arvada, where connecting from the light rail to departing bus service in a timely manner is impossible.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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Under normal procedures, departing astronauts don't leave the space station until a few days after their replacements arrive.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From there, each piece is put into storage or, upon final retirement, donated to local schools’ theatre departments or dance studios.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Roth conversions are asset transfers from a pre-tax retirement account such as a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In between people fleeing their homes and a severe financial crisis, many abandoned their pets.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Her grandparents, Edward and Sallie Bryant, emigrated from Kentucky in 1880 along with tens of thousands of other Exoduster families fleeing the racial violence and economic exploitation of the post-Civil War South.—
Elijah Winkler,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Canadian team hugged coach Scott Moir after exiting the ice, the legendary Olympian who holds three gold and two silver medals in ice dance for Canada.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Here was RussField exiting a black limo at the Ambassador Hotel, in a gown and tux, photographers clamoring for a shot.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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City Manager Seimone Jurjis said next steps include doing more design work with the consultant to explore what a building at the park could look like and what other considerations, such as environmental factors, height and ingress and egress, could play a role.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
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They will be backed by a phalanx of surveillance cameras, drones and multiple real-time technological hubs monitoring every entrance, doorway and egress point.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clearing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clearing%20out. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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