mopping-up

American  

[mop-ing-uhp] / ˈmɒp ɪŋˈʌp /

adjective

1. serving to complete or put the finishing touches to a phase of a particular action.

2. serving to complete a military campaign by killing or capturing any remaining enemy troops.

   a mopping-up operation.

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Etymology

Origin of mopping-up

1905–10; mop up + -ing ¹, used attributively

Example Sentences

The U.S. remains in the middle of an extended mopping-up effort on a mission that the public and much of the policymaking community lost interest in some time ago.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

The Ukrainian military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in the strategic settlement, but were still carrying out mopping-up operations.

From Reuters • Aug. 28, 2023

"He was clearly in pain and couldn't run properly. It was a gutsy effort, but it means it's a mopping-up operation for Australia tomorrow."

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2021

“It’s a total mopping-up operation. The Justice Ministry isn’t even trying to respect decorum,” Andrei Bastunets, the head of the organization, said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2021

From the classroom, someone turned the radio on: gallant Biafran soldiers were completing a mopping-up operation in a sector Ugwu did not hear clearly.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie