Clear vs Try to sanitise the madness

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Clear

Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective

Try to sanitise the madness

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Clear
 ClearTry to sanitise the madness
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/klɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/klɪr/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈsa.nɪ.taɪz//🇺🇸 //ˈsæn.ɪ.taɪz//
MeaningEasy to see through or understand.Make something clean and safe from dirt or harm.
ExampleThe sky is very clear today, perfect for a picnic.We need to try to sanitise the madness in our social media feeds.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, clear and concise, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, clear and concise, be, extremely, fairly, very, about, on, be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, loud and clear, be, become, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, seem, completely, fairly, pretty, oftry to improve, sanitise hands, sanitise surfaces, sanitise the environment, sanitise the narrative
Antonymscloudy, unclear, muddy-
Common mistakes'Clear' is often confused with 'clean.', 'Clear' is sometimes incorrectly used as a verb instead of an adjective., Learners may forget to use 'clear' to describe abstract concepts, like thoughts.Confusing 'sanitise' with 'sanitize'; they're interchangeable but be consistent., Using 'madness' to describe calm situations; it's more for chaos or confusion.
Usage notesUse 'clear' to describe something easily understood or free of obstructions. It’s appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid using it in overly technical discussions where precision matters.Use 'try to' for making an effort. 'Sanitise' fits clinical or careful contexts, appropriate in discussions around hygiene but may sound formal in casual speech.

See it in real clips

Clear
Try to sanitise the madness

Frequently asked questions: Clear vs Try to sanitise the madness

What's the difference between Clear and Try to sanitise the madness?

Clear: Easy to see through or understand. Try to sanitise the madness: Make something clean and safe from dirt or harm.

Which is more common: Clear and Try to sanitise the madness?

Clear is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Clear: The sky is very clear today, perfect for a picnic. Try to sanitise the madness: We need to try to sanitise the madness in our social media feeds.

Can I use Clear and Try to sanitise the madness interchangeably?

Not always. Clear and Try to sanitise the madness are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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