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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of clean (up)
Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
For that reason, keep your pets out of the kitchen during food prep and cleanup, away from the holiday table and out of the garbage.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
The plastic — salvaged from a waste site and beach cleanup in Cape Town — is melted down into a black goo and turned into sculptures, Olivier tells Axios.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
While the bill was passed without objection, not all lawmakers agree that the cost for cleanup should fall on the taxpayers.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up) 
Noun
The bill would provide $100 billion in funds for cleanup after devastating Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which rocked Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and other Southern states, as well as other disasters.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
For that reason, keep your pets out of the kitchen during food prep and cleanup, away from the holiday table and out of the garbage.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
The plastic — salvaged from a waste site and beach cleanup in Cape Town — is melted down into a black goo and turned into sculptures, Olivier tells Axios.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
While the bill was passed without objection, not all lawmakers agree that the cost for cleanup should fall on the taxpayers.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clean (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clean (up)
Verb
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The organization said laws in both states censor certain books in public schools.Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
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Schmitt, the former Missouri attorney general who helped engineer a lawsuit accusing the Biden administration of censoring conservatives with the help of social media platforms, sent the letter to Schumer on Thursday.Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On this day in 1979: Scientists declared that smallpox had been eradicated about a dozen years after the World Health Organization intensified its vaccination push and prior requirements in many countries in the Americas and Europe.Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2024
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In the 1950s, an ambitious international campaign was launched to eradicate the insect in the north and center of the continent.Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The homicide figures do not include killings that occurred in self-defense or in other circumstances not measured in Chicago police statistics.Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024
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Police are far more likely to be convicted of manslaughter than murder in on-duty killings, and the statute of limitations for the lesser crime had expired or nearly run out on three of the four shootings Middleton was set to review by the time he was hired in June 2021.James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This gives districts the flexibility to extend the school day and shorten the week.Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
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Additionally, their ability to thrive in low-oxygen environments might reduce the stress that would otherwise shorten their life expectancy.Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One dud doesn’t erase the good performances Young has put on tape over the past month.Joseph Person, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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All 39 who were pardoned, including Good Nelson, will have their convictions erased from their records.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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At the end of the day, O'Mara says, all the powerful tech companies want is to keep growing their size, influence and profits, and executives are hoping Trump will not interfere with the industry's expansion.Bobby Allyn, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
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While Gamuda reported unexciting results on Thursday, with net profit rising 5% year-on-year to 205.4 million ringgit in the three months ended October despite a 47% jump in revenue to 4.1 billion ringgit, Kenanga’s Teh projects stronger earnings ahead for the company.Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity.Megan Poinski, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Scientists can edit the genes of the pig to reduce the risk that a human body will reject its organ.Jen Christensen, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Some critics want to abolish the agency altogether.Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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India proposed in July to abolish its 2 percent equalization levy.Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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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 28 Dec. 2024.
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