The term 'clears the slate' is often used to mean starting anew or wiping away the past. It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as when someone wants to start fresh in a relationship or when a company wants to reset its goals and objectives. The crossword solution for this term is 'ERASES, ' which is a verb meaning to remove or wipe away something. Erasing is often used in the context of clearing the slate, as it is a physical action that symbolizes the idea of starting over.