come clean

phrase

: to tell the whole story : confess
came clean about the crimes

Examples of come clean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s when Perego came clean and showed her a video of him asking her late father. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026 However, the version of Greg that came clean to Denise about being fired, stopped drinking, and stepped up for his family now resides in the belly of a dinosaur. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of come clean was circa 1918

Rhymes for come clean

See All Rhymes for come clean

Browse Nearby Words

Comechingón
come clean
come close
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20clean. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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