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
as in sanitary
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cleanly
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Adames’ throw arrived in time and Nuñez didn’t even slide, but Bailey couldn’t cleanly receive the ball and Nuñez scored, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Adverb
The debate is split cleanly between thrill-seekers who see a bucket-list opportunity and skeptics who see a setup for a nature documentary gone wrong.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Adames’ throw arrived in time and Nuñez didn’t even slide, but Bailey couldn’t cleanly receive the ball and Nuñez scored, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
Ripa smiled at the camera with cleanly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and long blonde locks that fell past her shoulders.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cleanly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanly
Adverb
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The surge in revenue also translated into hundreds of billions in losses for Americans who legally placed wagers in 2025 — an increase of roughly 11% from the previous year, according to the association’s figures.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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If two Republican state senators had voted differently and done right by the people, a massive and legally dubious redrawing of Florida congressional districts would never have happened.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For livestock, this would include potable water, sanitary living conditions and access to a windbreak such as a building or tree line.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Results showed 80% of respondents voted no, citing both sanitary and ethical concerns.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The hospice movement that emerged in the latter half of the last century improved conditions for patients in the later years of life, replacing sterile, clinical hospital settings with holistic care centered on pain management, dignity, and quality of life.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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Schaffner said sterile male files that can't impregnate females were created in a laboratory.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Bringing your own way to brew is an easy solution that’s hygienic and can yield fresh, great-tasting coffee without breaking the bank.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
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Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Beyond that, he’s motivated by pure self-interest.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Jets are in need of talent up and down the roster and getting possibly the best pure pass rusher in the class is a good place to start.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some are fortunate to have a source of clean water and pipes that ensure that water reaches residents' homes untainted.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reich acknowledges there's no form of untainted money.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Since the vegetables are pre-washed, chopped, and handled more during processing, there is a higher risk of contamination.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
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Many people rely on pre-washed salad mix for its convenience.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The title track, with its glassy melody and woozy, almost stumbling groove, deploys wholesome, end-of-the-night, comedown energy not unlike Bicep’s most beloved tracks.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Pour the Cowboy Caviar into a bowl and serve it alongside Trader Joe's Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers for a wholesome and satisfying party appetizer or afternoon snack.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanly. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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