clear the air

phrase

variants or less commonly clear the atmosphere
: to remove elements of hostility, tension, confusion, or uncertainty
had a long meeting to clear the air

Examples of clear the air 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.
As for meetings with the senior and next generations, the goal isn't to get everyone to agree but to clear the air, said Rick Pitcairn, chief global strategist at Pitcairn. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Shanahan only previously held court with reporters during the first week of training camp to clear the air and claim fault for the accident. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke with reporters Thursday with the aim of clearing the air about the police department's current overtime pay situation. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Carson Daly is clearing the air on his future with The Voice. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clear the air

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clear the air was in the 14th century

Rhymes for clear the air

See All Rhymes for clear the air

Browse Nearby Words

clear tare
clear the air
clear the cobwebs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clear the air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear%20the%20air. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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