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
Relevance
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
-
As such, censoring misinformation carries the strong risk of censoring a good-faith idea.—
Jacob Hale Russell,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025 -
Lambert said that the family set strict parameters around protecting the privacy of the four youngest children by blurring out their faces and censoring their names whenever they were mentioned.—
Angela Yang,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Exposure to direct sunlight or high temperatures can cause squash to ripen too quickly, shortening its shelf life.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025
-
One of the most difficult parts of wedding planning is shortening the guest list.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Tesla is now on the cusp of erasing its postelection gains.—
Brian Evans,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2025
-
What To Know Stocks plummeted in morning trading on Wall Street, erasing all S&P 500 gains since Election Day.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Actually abolishing the department will require action from Congress, but the effort could have major implications for everything from universities’ federal funding to college students applying for loans to pay for their education.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2025
-
While the order, and its potential effect, sent shockwaves across Missouri and the nation, actually abolishing the Education Department will still require action from Congress.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Online records show that Lamb was charged with homicide, kidnap-false imprisonment, evidence-destroying and procure for prostitute.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
But if enacted, some of the ideas proposed also risk destroying a nascent private sector and worsening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cleaning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaning%20%28up%29. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share