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Definitions

housecleaning

[hous-klee-ning] / ˈhaʊsˌkli nɪŋ /
NOUN
dismissal
Synonyms
STRONG
adjournment banishment bounce brush-off deportation deposition discharge dislodgment displacement dispossession dissolution door end eviction exile exorcism expatriation expulsion freedom freeing layoff liberation notice ostracism ouster permission relegation removal suspension
WEAK
cold shoulder congé deposal kiss-off marching orders old heave-ho pink slip
Antonyms
STRONG
beginning commencement construction employment hiring imprisonment incarceration start welcoming
WEAK
acceptance appointment maintainance retention welcome

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.

Bowman has slashed staff and pursued what many inside and outside the central bank view as a housecleaning of the supervision and regulation division’s senior leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

But even after a new album — the band’s 12th — was released in April, concert sales lagged, leading to the cancellations and a housecleaning behind the scenes.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2024

Spending time with such a character inspired Wenders to do a little housecleaning.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2023

The housecleaning could delay processing the income statements because the financial team had been reshuffled, the source said, adding "with some firings, rediscovering the past gets even more complicated."

From Reuters • Jun. 22, 2023

"You could do a bit of housecleaning for a change," Allun teased.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda