1
as in tidying (up)
to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff
you're expected to clean up after you use the workroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in censoring
to remove objectionable parts from
cleaned up the rock star's interview before publishing it in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of
hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaning (up)
Verb
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Residents began self-censoring in private chats and deleting posts out of fear of reprisal.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026 -
Meta executives emphasized at trial that the company continuously improves safety and addresses compulsive social media use without infringing on free speech or censoring users.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This makes prediction markets the most useful and precise tool for eradicating exposing insider trading that has ever existed—a tool Congress should rely on heavily, not legislate out of existence.—
Nic Puckrin,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
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In Namibia, local authorities were producing millions of tons of wood chips while eradicating an invasive bush.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While shortening attention spans may be to blame for the shift in literature, Huehls argues that some writers are intentionally engaging with it.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Prune these shrubs by removing dead branches and shortening overgrown stems.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Cubs scored at least one run in the second through seventh innings, erasing what was once a 3-1 Saints’ lead.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Nile Rodgers songs have a way of erasing distinctions between the two.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Scenes of Japanese soccer fans sweeping stadiums and picking up trash after a match first drew public attention in France in 1998 — Japan’s first appearance in the World Cup.—
Stephen Wade,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zaragoza ‘keeper Esteban Andrada was shown a red card for a rather pantomime push on Huesca captain Jorge Pulido — and reacted to the dismissal by wiping out Pulido with a distinctly un-pantomime smash to the face (above).—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Outdoor Voices, once the toast of the category, faded into restructuring, wiping out its entire social media presence.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Louisiana lawmakers sent a bill to the governor's desk Wednesday abolishing his job.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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In April 2025, a motley crew gathered in New York City for a conference at Columbia University on abolishing the infinite.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For a few minutes at each end of that window, the moon’s edge will appear to align with that of the sun, blotting out the star’s fierce light and revealing the wispy corona off to one side.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Apr. 2026
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From up in the space shuttle, in 1983, astronaut Sally Ride could see the pollution blotting out her Los Angeles hometown.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cleaning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning%20%28up%29. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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