sweep (away)

verb

Definition of sweep (away)next
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of some priceless works of literature were swept away when the library at Alexandria burned

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep (away)
  1. eradicate
  2. erase
  3. abolish
  4. destroy
  5. wipe out
Verb
  • An elderly farmer woman receives an eye exam for trachoma in Vietnam — which along with India and Pakistan — eradicated the disease, which causes blindness, in 2024.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
  • Accolades of the organization include observing 113 elections in 39 countries and helping reduce the cases of Guinea worm disease by 99.99%, essentially eradicating it, according to the Carter Center.
    Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • On January 1, the Spanish top flight then erased the players from Barca's squad on its official website.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Be sure to erase any personal data before recycling electronics.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2025
Definition of erase
Verb
  • That loophole remained open following the most recent U.S. election, which saw California voters shooting down Proposition 6, which would have abolished prison labor.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2025
  • So legislation abolishing the department (already written by GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota) would have to pass through budget reconciliation, which lets certain legislation pass with a mere majority in the Senate.
    Dylan Matthews, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.
    Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
  • In 2023, nearly 40 were introduced to the council — from calling on the state legislature to let Louisville destroy confiscated firearms to requesting the city's Planning Commission review the Land Development Code.
    Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 1 Jan. 2025
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Beloved longtime businesses and emblems of the local canon — also wiped out.
    Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The company is now owned and run by original founder Stacy Spikes, who acquired it out of bankruptcy in 2022 after Farnsworth and partner Mitch Lowe ran it to the ground, wiping out shareholders.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of wipe out
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near sweep (away)

sweep

sweep (away)

sweeping

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Sweep (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep%20%28away%29. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

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