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Neatly vs Cleanly - What's the difference?

neatly | cleanly |

As adverbs the difference between neatly and cleanly

is that neatly is in a neat manner while cleanly is in a clean way.

As an adjective cleanly is

being habitually clean, practising good hygiene.

neatly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a neat manner.

    • cleanly

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) clenly, clenliche, clanly, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • being habitually clean, practising good hygiene
  • * 1653 , Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler
    • I'll now lead you to an honest ale-house, where we shall find a cleanly room, lavender in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck about the wall.
  • * Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World
    • There were some flat slabs of rock in the centre, with an excellent well close by, and there we sat in cleanly comfort while we made our first plans for the invasion of this new country.
  • (obsolete) Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc.
  • * Prior
    • With cleanly powder dry their hair.
  • (obsolete) adroit; dexterous; artful
  • * Spenser
    • Through his fine handling and his cleanly play.
    Derived terms
    * cleanliness * uncleanly
    Antonyms
    * uncleanly * dirty

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) clenly, clenli, clenliche, from (etyl) .

    Adverb

    (en-adv)
  • in a clean way
  • neatly
    • He was very cleanly dressed. — Dickens.
  • not causing a mess or unnecessary damage
    • We agreed to break off our relationship cleanly .
    Fortunately, the bullet passed cleanly through your shoulder.
  • innocently; without stain
    • (Shakespeare)
  • adroitly; dexterously
    • (Middleton)