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 Nuggets already held tiebreakers over the Rockets and Timberwolves by virtue of having won the season series against both teams, but the Lakers not only denied them a clean sweep in the crowded middle but now own tiebreakers over both Denver and Minnesota.
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Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The Nuggets already held tiebreakers over the Rockets and Timberwolves by virtue of having won the season series against both teams, but the Lakers denied them a clean sweep in the crowded middle.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Democrats made the housing crisis a core component of their platform last year, riding the issue to a clean sweep of the major races in last November’s off-year elections.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
La Jolla High School came oh so close to a clean sweep of the trio of championship games it was involved in over the weekend, but the Vikings faithful will need to settle for two out of three after winning titles in girls water polo and boys soccer and a narrow defeat in girls soccer.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean sweep
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Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The Nuggets already held tiebreakers over the Rockets and Timberwolves by virtue of having won the season series against both teams, but the Lakers denied them a clean sweep in the crowded middle.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Democrats made the housing crisis a core component of their platform last year, riding the issue to a clean sweep of the major races in last November’s off-year elections.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
La Jolla High School came oh so close to a clean sweep of the trio of championship games it was involved in over the weekend, but the Vikings faithful will need to settle for two out of three after winning titles in girls water polo and boys soccer and a narrow defeat in girls soccer.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 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 18 Mar. 2026.
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