sweep 1 of 2

Definition of sweepnext
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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

sweep

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sweep differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sweep are compass, gamut, orbit, range, and scope. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

When is compass a more appropriate choice than sweep?

In some situations, the words compass and sweep are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When could gamut be used to replace sweep?

While in some cases nearly identical to sweep, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

In what contexts can orbit take the place of sweep?

While the synonyms orbit and sweep are close in meaning, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When might range be a better fit than sweep?

The words range and sweep can be used in similar contexts, but range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

When can scope be used instead of sweep?

The words scope and sweep are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sweep
Verb
In the Boston City League, Max Dong had 33 assists to tie Son Nguyen’s career assists record of 1,671 as O’Bryant (10-5) swept Boston United 3-0. Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026 Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Noun
Miami can clinch that top-four conference tournament seed with a sweep at FSU. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026 Kirsch, a 2024 fourth-round pick, helped Kitchener capture the OHL championship on Tuesday, making 18 saves in a 4-2 win over Barrie in Game 4 of the best-of-seven league final to complete the series sweep. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep
Verb
  • For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • Together, all of those developments deepened class and regional inequalities, as capital flowed away from workers in the industrial hinterland toward financial centers like New York.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • In fact, according to NOAA, only about a quarter of eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms ever make landfall — most curve west and stay out at sea.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 May 2026
  • High up on the curving walls to either side were large murals painted in the 1930s by the artist Barry Faulkner portraying Thomas Jefferson handing the Declaration to John Hancock and the ratification of the Constitution.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • The plans, however, were complicated by the project’s ambitious scope.
    Ed Meza, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Previously, when Artemis III was conceived as a moon landing test, the mission was expected to last three to four weeks, according to the European Space Agency, but that timeline doesn’t necessarily apply to the new scope.
    Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Order a bowl of seafood chowder or a hearty breakfast, then settle in by the windows overlooking Thomas Basin, where floatplanes and fishing boats drift past throughout the day.
    Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026
  • Fifty years later, the Asian District runs about a mile long but feels like visiting a number of countries at once, as the smell of star anise and fish sauce drifting out of open doors alongside the sound of Spanish from a taqueria two storefronts down.
    Heide Brandes, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Her high-speed bat cracked as a blur of fluorescent yellow arced over the fence, sending Soo-Jin Berry, Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp across the plate for a grand slam.
    Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 18 May 2026
  • Jared Stroud played an arcing corner kick that bent out to Peglow, who stopped it with his first touch and then blasted a shot from outside the penalty arc that capped the scoring.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Mountain bikes must glide gracefully through all sorts of abusive terrain; road bikes need to mix high performance with enough comfort to let riders stay in the saddle for hours on end.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
  • Celeste Ecoflyers’ aircraft design emphasizes gliding capability for safe landings even in engine failure, combining low weight with operational robustness.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, insolvency documents cited by the Financial Times underline the extent of the exposures more broadly.
    Hugh Leask, CNBC, 18 May 2026
  • Among the many unknowns of the Cold War was the extent to which the world was random or ordered.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Additional layers are applied to fill gaps and create a smooth surface before a final coat of lacquer is brushed on.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
  • Yet younger people may be more likely to brush off shingles symptoms as NBD and have less awareness of what the illness actually is.
    Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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