Synonyms of sweep

sweep 1 of 3

verb (1)

1

as in to flow

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

the wind swept across the plain without respite

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flow
• drift
• glide
• brush
• sail
• slip
• slide
• coast
• cruise
• breeze
• race
• roll
• stream
• fly
• speed
• rush
• bowl
• skim
• whisk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggle
• limp
• stumble
• flounder
• trudge
• shuffle
• lumber
• plod
• stamp
• stomp
• labor
• tramp
• stump
• toil
• shamble

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

• curve
• arc
• round
• fall off
• bow
• turn
• wind
• arch
• swerve
• bend
• trend
• hook
• wheel
• curl
• crook
• loop
• circle
• spiral
• coil
• veer
• deviate
• twist
• curlicue

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straighten

sweep

2 of 3

noun

as in scope

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 & Similar Words

• scope
• confines
• extent
• realm
• range
• reach
• width
• amplitude
• breadth
• compass
• spectrum
• ambit
• circle
• dimension(s)
• spread
• gamut
• field
• sphere
• domain
• region
• department
• province
• discipline
• element
• specialty
• panorama
• terrain
• frontier
• horizon
• bailiwick
• fiefdom
• fief
• demesne

sweep (away)

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

• eradicate
• erase
• abolish
• destroy
• wipe out
• blot out
• stamp (out)
• clean (up)
• obliterate
• cancel
• exterminate
• expunge
• annihilate
• root (out)
• liquidate
• efface
• rub out
• black out
• demolish
• snuff (out)
• shatter
• extirpate
• tear down
• kill
• ruin
• mow (down)
• dismantle
• kill off
• discard
• consume
• waste
• powder
• wreck
• flatten
• blow up
• devastate
• fragment
• ravage
• dissolve
• total
• finish
• dash
• decimate
• smash
• devour
• eject
• throw out
• expel
• ditch
• blast
• terminate
• excise
• raze
• doom
• dynamite
• pulverize
• oust
• splinter
• cut
• atomize
• zap
• jettison

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• save
• preserve
• conserve
• build
• create
• make
• form
• manufacture
• construct
• shape
• fabricate
• forge
• restore
• repair
• frame
• patch
• rebuild
• fix
• renew
• reconstruct
• fashion
• mend
• renovate
• revamp
• recondition

Phrases Containing sweep

• sweep (away)