sweep 1 of 2

1
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

sweep

2 of 2

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
Miami, meanwhile, fell into the thick of the play-in tournament race, notching a middling 37-45 record and getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the Miami office of the National Weather Service, said the worst of the system will likely be past South Florida by midday Monday, unless some of the trailing bands of rain and thunderstorms end up sweeping over the region. Alex Harris updated September 28, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Blue Jays also got two home runs as part of a six-run bottom of the sixth, with Daulton Varsho’s grand slam and George Springer’s ensuing two-run homer providing all the offense Toronto needed to avoid the series sweep. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025 Seattle, which used its three-game series against the Rockies to first clinch a playoff berth on Tuesday and then the American League West title on Wednesday, polished off the sweep on Thursday on a night where Colorado was never in contention. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep
Verb
  • Indeed, the answer to the question Alan Sparks raised about what happens to all of the money flowing through the county government is one that even local authorities are unable, or unwilling, to answer.
    Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Here, the local world flows straight into your own private escape, creating an unrivaled, unforgettable vacation experience.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The difference in the zero-point energy of space between those two locations tells us, as first derived in Hawking’s 1974 paper, that radiation will be emitted from the region around the black hole, where space is curved the most strongly.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The angles of the rooms are all curved, and there’s a circular quality to the sets that gives the impression that nothing leads anywhere.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And by looking at the broader scope of medical data, these researchers found that almost all the cases did have traditional, modifiable risks in their chart before developing cardiovascular disease, Cheng said.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The scale and influence of Nashville's healthcare industry cluster is national in scope, generating more than half a million jobs globally, according to the Council.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The pajama set is crafted from deep red silk and printed with abstract nude figures — a motif inspired by bodies in motion and drifting smoke, as well as the photography of Arno Nobles.
    Hanna McNeila, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Still, Nevo's mind often drifts to the moment in Gaza when Palestinian militants detonated explosives in a home, wounding him and killing two close friends in his army unit.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Both Maye and Vrabel both said Maye’s pass should have been arced more.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The rocket arced on a trajectory heading east from Florida's Space Coast, shed its reusable first stage booster for a landing offshore, then fired its upper stage engine twice to propel the trio of missions into deep space.
    Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But their insect-like movements hint at a future where fleets of miniature robots could glide across water, performing tasks once too dangerous or delicate for humans.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • In the underwater footage, a barracuda is shown gliding through turquoise-green waters, very close to the camera.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Jim Cramer agrees with Buffett's philosophy — to an extent.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Travis Kelce may have kept it 100 on most things this summer, but the extent of his knowledge about Taylor Swift‘s The Life of a Showgirl may not have been one of them.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Touching the ancient stones and brushing off ceramics and coins untouched for nearly two thousand years made that world come vividly alive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Stock indexes closed higher Monday, brushing off worries that mass layoffs could hit consumer spending or that a shutdown would preempt the release of Friday’s September jobs report.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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