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sweep

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of sweep

an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
  • Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople.
Synonyms of sweep

amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, width
Words Related to sweep

gamut, spectrum, spread

bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain

frontier

horizon, panorama

Synonym Discussion of sweep

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control). 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
gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.
    • a performance that ran the gamut of emotions
compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.
    • your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study
sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.
    • the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity
scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.
    • as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened
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

sweep

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of sweep

1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily
  • The wind swept across the plain without respite.
Synonyms of sweep

bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, whisk
Words Related to sweep

fly, race, rush, speed
Near Antonyms of sweep

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge

shamble, shuffle

stamp, stomp, stump, tramp

labor, toil
Antonyms of sweep

flounder, struggle
2 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 of sweep

arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, swerve, trend, wheel
Words Related to sweep

circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral

turn, twist, wind

deviate, veer
Antonyms of sweep

straighten

Learn More about sweep

  1. See words that rhyme with sweep Dictionary: Definition of sweep Spanish Central: Translation of sweep Nglish: Translation of sweep for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sweep for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sweep

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