clean (up) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of clean (up)next
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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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cleanup

2 of 2

noun

as in killing
an exceptionally large return The couple made a cleanup when they flipped the house.

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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)
Noun
The force, which rose to a peak of about 5,000 troops over the summer, has supported arrest operations, patrolled city streets and neighborhoods and participated in cleanup efforts. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Get Support includes an emergency check-in registry, assistance requests and wellness checks, while the Volunteer portion of the program provides opportunities to assist with cleanup efforts and local neighborhood needs. — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 After batting cleanup in the first two games against the Yankees and sixth in Game 3 of that series, Hicks wasn't in the lineup against lefty Foster Griffin on Monday and batted eighth against Messick. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Campaign cleanup Democrat Josh McLaurin criticized his Republican opponent, Greg Dolezal, for pivoting his campaign away from controversial, far-right issues that dominated his primary campaign. — AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
  1. censor
  2. eradicate
  3. killing
  4. shorten
  5. erase
  6. profit
  7. edit
  8. abolish
Verb
  • But on the television broadcast that aired on Saturday, Antonia’s T-shirt had been censored, appearing to be all white.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Faith, clearly, doesn’t gravitate to artists who mute or censor themselves (tourmate Musgraves is another big inspiration).
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of censor
Verb
  • Yet, we’re told by this administration that non-citizen voting is rampant and must be eradicated.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Plans to eradicate the remaining invasive mammals is already underway.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Noun
  • In August, Israel indicted a settler in the killing of a Palestinian activist.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • As Morris was facing trial for Parker’s killing, Ezell Finklea, a 61-year-old military veteran and witness who cooperated with Miami-Dade prosecutors despite threats to his life, was gunned down.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of killing
Verb
  • Their average life span is about 8,000 hours, but turning them on and off frequently shortens this time frame.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Operationally, Geraghty is prioritizing domestic production to shorten lead times.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shorten
Verb
  • Credit stress at CoreWeave, concerns over corporate AI spending and another hot inflation report erased more than $1 trillion from 20 of the world's largest AI and semiconductor stocks this week.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His apprehension turned into anger when the city’s Department of Transportation erased the DIY crosswalks two months later.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of erase
Noun
  • Niemiec is the chief science and education officer at the VIA Institute on Character, a non-profit focused on the science and practice of character strengths.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The group has predicted a rebound in its profits this year, and its new CEO is projecting optimism.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of profit
Verb
  • Jonatan Mose served as cinematographer, with editing handled by Martin Anthon.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • It was edited by Rachel Baye, Maureen Pao, Jeanette Woods, and Tinbete Ermyas.
    — October 16, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of edit
Verb
  • In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is also gaining ground and wants to abolish the license fee that finances public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Although California had technically abolished slavery in its 1849 constitution, no legal authority troubled Smith about his human property.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of abolish

Browse Nearby Words

cleans up one's act
clean (up)
cleanup
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Cite this Entry

“Clean (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clean%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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