1
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
the wind swept across the plain without respite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course
from this point the mountain range sweeps to the northeast and extends into the next state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scope
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sweep
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
On that day, the moon will completely cover the sun for several minutes along a narrow path of totality that sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Some of the Best Picture winners won, but there were very few sweeps.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweep
Verb
North Crowley girls a favorite North Crowley (27-4, 12-0 District 3-6A) has the utmost momentum after sweeping through a tough district slate, which includes Boswell, the 2025 Class 6A Division II state champion.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
On that day, the moon will completely cover the sun for several minutes along a narrow path of totality that sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
The warrant requirement for an ICE arrest, established by statute, is meant to function as a protection against exactly the kind of massive, non-specific sweeps ICE is now performing.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Some of the Best Picture winners won, but there were very few sweeps.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep
Verb
-
Insulating silicone gaskets and foam silicone pads isolate the electronics and fans at the bottom from heat above; a fine steel mesh allows air to flow upwards from the fans, while preventing debris from falling into the componentry.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Millions of dollars in federal funds were set to flow once again to the Hudson River Tunnel Thursday night, after a federal court order blocking the bucks expired.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The path begins in Siberia, curves around the North Pole past Greenland and Iceland, then crosses Spain before ending in the Mediterranean sunset.—
Ryan Craggs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Some of them were curved like a hook.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Still, the department is sweeping in its scope, responsible not only for immigration enforcement, but also disaster response and airport security.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As is tradition in adaptations of Wuthering Heights, Fennell’s film narrows its scope to Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship and ends with her death.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Snowflakes drift down like tiny nets, moving slowly and exposing lots of surface area, gathering more pollutants than fast-falling raindrops.—
Isabel Lopez,
Parents,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There will be debates over whether the games have drifted too far from the original Olympian model and whether some, less-popular sports should be discarded in favor of more crowd-pleasing competitions.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the Wild Eyed Rose, the voluptuous tartness of the grenadine gets to arc across the whole palate, supported by the warm light malt of the Irish whiskey and given a malic kiss at the end by the lime juice.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The voltage on the floor arced up instantaneously.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Earth, skis can glide across snowy surfaces because of the way water ice behaves.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Camper helms production on the track, laying down a soulful canvas for Monét’s honeyed vocals to glide over.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the extent of Epstein’s connections to seemingly countless powerful individuals in numerous fields, including media, validates the feeling that some Epstein obsessives have shared.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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His three-album run from the last decade – 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 2016’s 4 Your Eyez Only and, to a lesser extent, 2018’s KOD – certified his reputation as a thoughtful and engaging voice in the genre.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Allowing people to keep doing some tasks on their own, like brushing their teeth, is critical for keeping their sense of self in the world.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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