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
This year was nearly a clean sweep for cities in South America.
—
Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The 19-year-old collected a clean sweep of the club’s player of the season awards, becoming the first teenager since Glenn Hoddle to do so, and is viewed as an essential part of the present and future.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Their reward was a clean sweep of the Marlins in Miami.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 4 June 2025
Carpenter has sent every single from the full-length to the top of the list, which is otherwise known as a clean sweep.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean sweep
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Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The 19-year-old collected a clean sweep of the club’s player of the season awards, becoming the first teenager since Glenn Hoddle to do so, and is viewed as an essential part of the present and future.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Their reward was a clean sweep of the Marlins in Miami.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 4 June 2025
Carpenter has sent every single from the full-length to the top of the list, which is otherwise known as a clean sweep.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
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 8 Aug. 2025.
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