cleanly 1 of 2

adverb

ˈklēn-lē How to pronounce cleanly (audio)
Definition of cleanlynext
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

cleanly

2 of 2

adjective

as in sanitary

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 cleanly
Adverb
The binder dissolved, allowing the electrode coatings to separate cleanly from their metal foils without leaving residues. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 Someone has to structure information so agents can retrieve it cleanly, and track what agents search for and fail to find, because those gaps are now a direct signal of where customers are getting bad answers. — Han Wang, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Director Jennifer Chang understands clearly and cleanly which moments need specific tones and moods. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
  1. legally
  2. sanitary
  3. sterile
  4. hygienic
  5. pure
  6. untainted
  7. washed
  8. wholesome
Adverb
  • Nothing yet holds the people at the top personally legally accountable.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But dating apps are not largely not transparent about how personal information is stored, analyzed, and shared and require you to legally consent to sharing data.
    — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of legally
Adjective
  • Attempting to de-escalate the scare, Rospotrebnadzor declared the regional sanitary situation stable after secondary testing showed no traces of dangerous pathogens linked to Shipilova’s research.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As the war raged on, this makeshift countermeasure was replaced by more sanitary and effective innovations, including gauze pads soaked in hyposulfite solution, flannel hoods, tube helmets, and box respirators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanitary
Adjective
  • The second stories house supplies of the metals, films, and components needed, as well as a very substantial set of HVAC equipment to keep the processes sterile, dust-free, and at the right temperature.
    — John Voelcker, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Right now yeast fermentation is the standard method of producing heme (as leghemoglobin), but the sterile environment and industrial equipment necessary for manufacturing can be pricey.
    — Lila Magbilang, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sterile
Adjective
  • Plus, the product features a push-jar for extra hygienic application (AKA, no scooping product out of the jar with your fingers).
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Once dry, the items can remain protected inside the machine in a hygienic storage environment supported by a medical-grade HEPA filter.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hygienic
Adjective
  • Cringe may be excruciating, but post-cringe would be pure horror.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This gift box contains eight bars, spanning from 58 to 80% cacao, in flavors like banana foster and green tea crunch for the adventurous and pink sea salt or pure cacao, dates, and vanilla for the purists.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • Plant operators must prove to nearby towns that their water tables remain untainted.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In theory, this untainted market response can then guide Fed officials debating whether to raise or lower rates.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of untainted
Adjective
  • Made from naturally breathable, skin-friendly, pre-washed linen, the quilt is designed to hold up for years while growing softer with every wash.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As the Cyclospora outbreak grows, experts recommend washing all fresh produce that hasn’t been pre-washed—not just lettuce.
    — Sarah Garone, HEALTH, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of washed
Adjective
  • The two-time Oscar winner and entrepreneur Schneider are expecting their third child, Swank announced in a wholesome family video shared Wednesday to Instagram.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • As other companies dodge the Grand Theft Auto juggernaut by avoiding the November release window, Nintendo's wholesome throwback is poised to stand out against the glitzy violence of Grand Theft Auto.
    — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of wholesome

Browse Nearby Words

cleanliness
cleanly
cleanness
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Cite this Entry

“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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