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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep (away)
Verb
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The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.—
Peter Aitken
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025 -
Its nuclear infrastructure is wrecked but by no means wholly eradicated.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This practice of reframing doesn’t erase the problem, sure.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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The move to erase the sometimes ugly truth about this country’s history?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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New York state, where Gendron pleaded guilty to 15 state charges, including multiple counts of murder, abolished capital punishment in 2004.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
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Even after slavery was abolished, some families who sought to find their kin never did.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Protective sand dunes could be inundated and destroyed, which could lead to severe flooding inland, National Park Service officials at Cape Hatteras National Seashore warned Monday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
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Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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What's more terrifying: Dustin Hoffman in a space suit or an escaped monkey infected with a disease that could wipe out half of humanity?—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The Russian curriculum they are forced to follow wipes out the centuries-long struggle for Ukrainian independence.—
Peter Pomerantsev,
Time,
14 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sweep (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep%20%28away%29. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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