Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for clean up. Search instead for clean+u.
Definitions

clean up

VERB
accumulate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accrue acquire add to assemble collect compile concentrate expand gain grow hoard increase pile up rack up swell
STRONG
agglomerate aggregate amalgamate cache collocate cumulate gather heap incorporate lump mass pile procure profit stockpile store unite
WEAK
bring together draw together heap together load up make a bundle make a killing roll up round up scare up stack up store up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
contract decrease diminish disperse divide forfeit lessen lose scatter separate shrink spend waste
WEAK
dissipate dwindle squander
VERB
amass
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assemble collect compile garner hoard stockpile
STRONG
aggregate corral heap pile store
WEAK
lay up make a killing make a pile round up scare up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disperse divide scatter separate
WEAK
disburse dissipate dole spend
VERB
brush up
Synonyms
WEAK
cram go over look over polish up read up refresh one's memory refurbish relearn renovate reread retouch review revise study touch up
Antonyms
WEAK
forget
VERB
censor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abridge black out blacklist delete edit excise restrict sanitize suppress withhold
STRONG
bleach bleep bowdlerize conceal control cork criticize cut decontaminate examine expurgate inspect launder narrow oversee purge purify repress restrain review revile squelch sterilize
WEAK
drop the iron curtain exscind prevent publication put the lid on refuse transmission scissor out strike out supervise communications
Antonyms
STRONGEST
add enlarge expand let go put in release
STRONG
allow approve dirty ignore neglect permit praise
WEAK
endorse sanction
VERB
clear
Synonyms
STRONGEST
get make receive secure win
STRONG
accumulate acquire earn gain gather glean net obtain realize reap
WEAK
pick up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forfeit lose
STRONG
disperse plant spend waste
WEAK
clutter
VERB
consummate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
polish off terminate
STRONG
accomplish can clinch close compass complete conclude crown effectuate end halt perfect perform sign wrap
WEAK
button down call a day carry out come come through drop curtain fold up get it together go the distance knock off mop up put away put finishing touch on put lid on put to bed sew up take care of top it off ultimate wind up wrap up
Antonyms
STRONG
begin commence continue fail give up not finish start stop
WEAK
neglect
VERB
correct
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alter amend cure improve mend rectify redress regulate remediate remedy repair review revise straighten out upgrade
STRONG
ameliorate better change debug doctor edit emend help launder polish reclaim reconstruct reform remodel reorganize retouch right scrub
WEAK
clean up act do over fiddle with fix up get with it go over make over make right make up for pay dues pick up put in order set right set straight shape up touch up turn around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
break damage depress destroy harm hurt injure maintain remain ruin weaken worsen
WEAK
be permissive blow blunder coddle goof indulge mistake pamper pet spoil
VERB
delete
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annul black out cross out cut out destroy eliminate erase expunge omit remove wipe out
STRONG
bleep blue pencil cancel censor cut drop edit efface exclude expurgate obliterate rub snip squash squelch trim unsend
WEAK
X out blot out pass up rub out rule out strike out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
add include keep restore
STRONG
accept allow
WEAK
put in
VERB
earn
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquire bring in collect derive draw gain get make obtain pick up realize reap receive score secure win
STRONG
attain clear consummate cop effect gather gross hustle net perform procure profit pull rate snag sock turn wrangle
WEAK
be gainfully employed be in line for bring home bring home the bacon bring home the groceries make fast buck make it big pay one's dues pull down scare up scrape together
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade fail forfeit give lose miss pass spend surrender yield
STRONG
give in neglect
WEAK
cost throw away
VERB
expurgate
Synonyms
STRONG
bleep bowdlerize cleanse decontaminate lustrate purge purify sanitize screen scrub squash sterilize
WEAK
bleep out blip blue pencil
Antonyms
STRONG
dirty open
WEAK
allow permit
VERB
get
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bring draw earn gain grab have land make obtain pick up pull realize receive score take win
STRONG
access accomplish acquire annex attain bag capture clear compass cop educe effect elicit evoke extort extract fetch glean hustle inherit net parlay procure reap secure snag snowball wangle
WEAK
bring in build up buy into buy off buy out cash in on chalk up come by get hands on lock up make a buy make a killing rack up snap up succeed to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid drop forfeit give lose offer refuse reject release throw away
STRONG
abandon free give up let go push away relinquish surrender
WEAK
leave miss pass yield
VERB
hit the jackpot
Synonyms
WEAK
break the bank hit the mark make a killing score strike it rich
VERB
lave
Synonyms
STRONG
bath bathe bubble cleanse dip douse drench float hose imbue immerse lap launder moisten rinse scour scrub shampoo shine shower slosh soak soap sponge starch swab wet wipe
WEAK
brush up do the dishes do the laundry fresh up freshen up take a bath take a shower tub wash up
Antonyms
STRONG
dehydrate dirty dry ignore
VERB
legalize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
approve authorize codify constitute decriminalize enact permit regulate
STRONG
decree formulate launder legislate legitimate legitimatize license ordain sanction
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny disallow disorganize refuse reject
WEAK
prohibit veto
VERB
legitimatize
Synonyms
STRONG
approve authorize codify constitute decree decriminalize enact formulate launder legislate legitimate legitimize license ordain permit regulate sanction
Antonyms
STRONG
deny disallow disapprove disorganize prevent refuse reject veto
VERB
legitimize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
codify constitute decriminalize legislate regulate
STRONG
approve authorize decree enact formulate launder legitimate legitimatize license ordain permit sanction
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disorganize
STRONG
deny disallow disapprove prevent refuse reject veto
VERB
line one's pockets
Synonyms
WEAK
coin money feather one's nest fill one's pockets get rich have one's ship come in have the golden touch make a bundle make a fortune make a mint make a wad put money in one's pocket strike it rich
VERB
make
Synonyms
STRONGEST
get receive
STRONG
clear gain harvest hustle net obtain pull rate realize reap secure sock
WEAK
bring home bacon bring in pull down take in
Antonyms
STRONG
expend forfeit let go lose pay out spend
VERB
net
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accumulate bring in earn reap
STRONG
clear make profit realize
Antonyms
STRONGEST
lose spend
WEAK
gross
VERB
profit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contribute earn improve pay off prosper take advantage of thrive
STRONG
aid avail benefit better clear exploit help pay promote realize recover score serve use utilize
WEAK
be of advantage capitalize on cash in on learn from make a haul make a killing make capital make good use of make it big make money make the most of put to good use reap the benefit stand in good stead turn to advantage work for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline fail harm hurt lose
STRONG
block condemn deteriorate hinder injure obstruct worsen
VERB
rake
Synonyms
STRONGEST
comb scour scrape
STRONG
clear collect enfilade examine gather grade graze grub harrow hunt ransack rasp remove rummage scan scratch scrutinize search smooth sweep weed
WEAK
break up clear up fine-comb fine-tooth-comb
Antonyms
STRONG
disperse distribute divide plant scatter
VERB
rectify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amend fix improve redress remedy straighten out
STRONG
adjust debug doctor emend launder mend reform remediate repair revise right scrub square
WEAK
clean up act dial back fix up go over make good make up for pay one's dues pick up put right recalibrate shape up straighten up turn things around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
corrupt harm hurt injure worsen
STRONG
break destroy ruin upset
WEAK
damage
VERB
reform
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amend improve rebuild rehabilitate remake renovate reorganize repair resolve restore revise revolutionize standardize transform
STRONG
ameliorate better convert correct cure emend mend rearrange reclaim reconstitute reconstruct redeem refashion regenerate remedy remodel renew rework uplift
WEAK
bring up to code change one's ways clean up one's act go straight make amends make over shape up swear off turn over a new leaf
Antonyms
STRONGEST
break damage destroy harm hurt injure ruin waver worsen
STRONG
abandon forfeit kill
WEAK
impair
VERB
refurbish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
fix up modernize overhaul recondition redo refit rehabilitate remodel renovate repair restore revamp update
STRONG
mend refresh rejuvenate renew retread spruce
WEAK
do up gussy up reequip rehab set to rights
Antonyms
STRONGEST
antique break damage destroy hurt ruin
STRONG
kill
VERB
remedy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate ameliorate amend assuage correct mitigate rectify redress relieve restore solve straighten out
STRONG
aid attend change control debug doctor ease heal help launder palliate reform remediate renew repair revise right scrub soothe square treat upgrade
WEAK
clean up one's act fiddle with fix up go over make up for pick up put right recalibrate set right set to rights shape up square up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate damage harm hurt increase injure intensify upset worsen
STRONG
block break hinder ignore neglect obstruct remain stay stop
WEAK
get sick
VERB
return
Synonyms
STRONGEST
make pay score
STRONG
clear net repay yield
WEAK
bring in cash in on make a killing pay dividend pay off show profit
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail lose
WEAK
ask depart keep leave request take
VERB
revise
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alter amend compare cut develop improve modify overhaul reconsider reexamine reorganize revamp review rework rewrite scrutinize tighten update upgrade
STRONG
blue pencil change debug emend launder perfect polish recast redo redraft rehash scan scrub study
WEAK
go over look over recalibrate redraw restyle run through
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decrease harm ignore injure worsen
STRONG
ruin
VERB
right
Synonyms
STRONG
adjust amend balance debug doctor emend launder mend overhaul patch recompense recondition reconstruct rectify redress repair restore reward scrub settle square straighten vindicate
WEAK
compensate for dial back do justice fiddle with fix up go straight make up for pick up put in place put right recalibrate set straight set upright shape up sort out straighten out turn around
Antonyms
STRONG
break confuse damage destroy harm hurt injure move punish ruin upset worsen
WEAK
wrong
VERB
settle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
achieve clear complete conclude decide determine end establish fix negotiate pay put an end to work out
STRONG
adjudicate adjust appoint arrange choose cinch clinch concert confirm discharge dispose figure judge mediate order reconcile regulate rule satisfy seal square verify
WEAK
call the shots clear up come to a conclusion come to a decision come to an agreement form judgment make a decision make certain nail down put into order set to rights
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin commence destroy ignore neglect start unsettle
STRONG
confuse disagree disarrange disorder disorganize disturb invalidate mismanage mix up upset
VERB
shake up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disturb reorganize shock
WEAK
agitate break with past cause revolution churn up clean out clear out liquidate make a clean sweep mix overturn purge remove rid stir up turn upside down
Antonyms
WEAK
calm placate soothe
VERB
simplify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clarify cut down facilitate reduce shorten streamline
STRONG
abridge analyze chasten decipher disentangle disinvolve elucidate explain interpret order unscramble
WEAK
boil down break down break it down clean it up clear up cut the frills draw a picture get down to basics get to the meat hit the high spots lay out let daylight in let sunlight in make clear make perfectly clear make plain put in a nutshell put one straight spell out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow increase
STRONG
be vague confuse mix up mystify obscure
WEAK
complicate make difficult
VERB
void
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abrogate annul dissolve invalidate rescind vacate
STRONG
abnegate bleep cut discharge drop gut launder sanitize sterilize trim
WEAK
black out blue pencil declare null and void take out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve permit validate
WEAK
allow keep sanction
VERB
wash
Synonyms
STRONGEST
douse drench float hose moisten rinse scrub shower soak wash up wet wipe
STRONG
bath bubble cleanse dip imbue immerse lap launder lave scour shampoo shine slosh soap sponge starch swab tub
WEAK
brush up do the dishes do the laundry fresh up freshen up take a bath take a shower
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dehydrate dry
STRONG
dirty ignore
VERB
wind up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
close complete conclude do end up finish up settle wrap up
WEAK
be through with bring to a close close down come to the end determine end finalize halt liquidate terminate tie up loose ends
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin introduce neglect start unsettle
WEAK
commence open

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If our government took those two simple steps, they would do much to clean up the greatest problems confronting journalism.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

Frances Perkins, Franklin Roosevelt’s Labor secretary, recalled having to clean up the agency — not just morally and ethically, but with broom and bucket, when she took over from William Nuckles Doak, Herbert Hoover’s appointee.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Cruise was at CinemaCon earlier in the week to preview a very different film, Digger, in which he plays a grey-haired oil baron who has to clean up his environmental mess.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Meanwhile, a reporter who did her own research but asked an A.I. to clean up her prose might get flagged.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

“We must think of the future! We must clean up and rebuild!”

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm