1
as in to disperse
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
the lunch crowd usually clears out by 2:00 p.m. at the latest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clear out
The popular trail clears out in the winter, providing a quiet refuge in Tennessee's Cumberland Mountains for those who hike there.
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Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
In Japan, it’s known as Oosouji, an end-of-year deep clean meant to clear out both physical mess and mental baggage before the calendar turns.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 2 Jan. 2026
After jumping ahead 18 months, Stranger Things concludes with an emotional final Dungeons & Dragons campaign in the Wheeler basement for the original heroes, before Mike’s crew clears out for Holly, Derek (Jake Connelly) and their pals to take their place.
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
Despite the holiday season clearing out offices, sending thousands on vacation, and shutting down stores early, CEOs tell Fortune their work lives are still intense.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clear out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear out
Verb
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The footage also shows a federal agent at one point using a portable speaker to order the group to disperse.—
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No matter where the passengers disperse, the train walls surround them.—
Verb
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Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
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Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Verb
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The journey begins in Fairbanks, Alaska, and travelers spend two days exploring the city before the train departs south toward Denali National Park and Preserve.—
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Before departing Moscow, the young Venezuelan had obtained a letter of introduction to the PFLP from Arab fellow students who were involved with the group.—
Verb
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No one was injured, and the suspects fled before deputies arrived.—
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Other offenses include fleeing from police, escaping from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, theft, trespassing and giving police a false name.—
Verb
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In each case, agents shot at drivers or into moving cars – a practice that has largely been discouraged by law enforcement because of risks to public safety.—
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After Strome’s goal, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky tweaked two of his forward lines, dropping Igor Chernyshov to the third line with Michael Misa and Adam Gaudette and moving Regenda to the top line with Celebrini and Graf.—
Verb
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But there was no way to get out of it because that was just where my brain and my heart were.—
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Taylor had just pulled into the shopping center and said, while finishing up a cigarette, three guys in a black SUV approached, and two got out.—
Verb
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The Warriors were up 81-72 when Post exited for Al Horford, the team outscoring the Knicks 19-13 during the stretch.—
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Later, McBride saw Short exiting the same bar with two men and a woman, and the officer checked in on her.—
Verb
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The new system could replace the Stinger missile, which can engage low-flying aircraft such as helicopters, jets during takeoff or landing, and some drones.—
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With that possibility in mind, NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, agreed to fly one NASA astronaut aboard each Soyuz and one Russian cosmonaut aboard each Crew Dragon.—
Cite this Entry
“Clear out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear%20out. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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