clean sweep
noun
1
: a victory in which one side or team wins every game, contest, etc.
The Red Sox won the series in a clean sweep.
The election was a clean sweep for local Democratic candidates.
2
: a complete change in something
The new governor has made a clean sweep of the staff in the governor's mansion.
Examples of clean sweep in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The staffing wars ended with a virtual neo-Brandeisian clean sweep.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
In one clean sweep, all Philip’s devices are gone.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The Formula 1 season ahead of Miami had been a clean sweep by Mercedes as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli combined to win the first three grand prix races and the sprint race in China.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Claros has been calling for a clean sweep of the leadership at City Hall, saying voters should boot out not just Hernandez but also Mayor Karen Bass and Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean sweep
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Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
In one clean sweep, all Philip’s devices are gone.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The Formula 1 season ahead of Miami had been a clean sweep by Mercedes as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli combined to win the first three grand prix races and the sprint race in China.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Claros has been calling for a clean sweep of the leadership at City Hall, saying voters should boot out not just Hernandez but also Mayor Karen Bass and Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean sweep
Cite this Entry
“Clean sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean%20sweep. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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