1
as in flows
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
the wind swept across the plain without respite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curves
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
as in confines
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sweeps
Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Iran has vowed to retaliate against military vessels that enter the strait, as the US sweeps for mines in the strategic channel.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Colleyville Heritage sweeps Ryan Colleyville Heritage scored in every inning except the third as the Panthers completed a sweep of Denton Ryan 9-2 on Friday in a District 6-5A contest at Colleyville Heritage High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
In addition, a helicopter shot in the teaser sweeps low over Oyster Bay, dropping Miranda and Andy at a sprawling waterfront compound that eagle-eyed viewers—or real estate insiders—may recognize as the former estate of Billy Joel.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
After less-than-stellar starts to their seasons, both the San Diego State and USD baseball teams had three-game conference sweeps at home last week.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
The roofline sweeps low and sleek.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
When these rapidly spinning neutron stars blast out radiation from their poles, that radiation sweeps across the cosmos like beams of light from a cosmic lighthouse.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
His suite in the World Trade Center is cavernous, with a view that sweeps from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Statue of Liberty.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
Seal gaps beneath doors with door sweeps.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
The Badgers lost six straight contests at one point — weekend sweeps by Penn State, Michigan State and Minnesota.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Since rats can’t chew through metal bristles, these provide better protection than standard rubber sweeps.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
Talks about immigration-enforcement guardrails—such as barring agents from wearing masks, and putting an end to warrantless sweeps of private residences—did not reach a conclusion.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Rodarte and a Yuba County Sheriff’s Office sergeant last fall were cleared of wrongdoing by Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry, who found that the duo, part of a larger tactical team at one of several sweeps during the multi-county operation, acted in self-defense.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Those who decline the city’s offer of emergency shelter will likely scatter to parks, sidewalks and other areas, risking further sweeps and the possibility of citation or arrest.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In logistics, Todorova sees use cases for inventory management, such as drones boosting safety and saving labor by performing daily inventory sweeps and audits.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
As a bowing line of storms sweeps into our area from the west Tuesday night, the main danger will be straight-line wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Iran has vowed to retaliate against military vessels that enter the strait, as the US sweeps for mines in the strategic channel.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Colleyville Heritage sweeps Ryan Colleyville Heritage scored in every inning except the third as the Panthers completed a sweep of Denton Ryan 9-2 on Friday in a District 6-5A contest at Colleyville Heritage High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
In addition, a helicopter shot in the teaser sweeps low over Oyster Bay, dropping Miranda and Andy at a sprawling waterfront compound that eagle-eyed viewers—or real estate insiders—may recognize as the former estate of Billy Joel.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
After less-than-stellar starts to their seasons, both the San Diego State and USD baseball teams had three-game conference sweeps at home last week.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
The roofline sweeps low and sleek.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
When these rapidly spinning neutron stars blast out radiation from their poles, that radiation sweeps across the cosmos like beams of light from a cosmic lighthouse.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
His suite in the World Trade Center is cavernous, with a view that sweeps from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Statue of Liberty.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
Immigration sweeps peaked in Orange County’s most populous city last summer with at least 30 detainments between mid-June and mid-September, including when federal officers descended several times on car washes and a Home Depot, ending in several deportations.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
Seal gaps beneath doors with door sweeps.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
The Badgers lost six straight contests at one point — weekend sweeps by Penn State, Michigan State and Minnesota.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Since rats can’t chew through metal bristles, these provide better protection than standard rubber sweeps.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
Talks about immigration-enforcement guardrails—such as barring agents from wearing masks, and putting an end to warrantless sweeps of private residences—did not reach a conclusion.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Rodarte and a Yuba County Sheriff’s Office sergeant last fall were cleared of wrongdoing by Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry, who found that the duo, part of a larger tactical team at one of several sweeps during the multi-county operation, acted in self-defense.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Those who decline the city’s offer of emergency shelter will likely scatter to parks, sidewalks and other areas, risking further sweeps and the possibility of citation or arrest.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In logistics, Todorova sees use cases for inventory management, such as drones boosting safety and saving labor by performing daily inventory sweeps and audits.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
There’s nothing fancy about a big, square screen that sits upstage of the circular playing area, but the subtlety in which the images and mood flows through the screen greatly enhance the storytelling.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
After the play-within-a-play, there’s no turning back, and the blood flows like wine or poison.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In another panel, a man and child walk away from the town along a railroad track that curves up and to the left, and then disappears.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Frame the face in the most flattering way with a chin-length bob that curves ever so slightly under.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Away from the city’s concrete and sounds, the scent of herbs drifts through the air and light pours in from the floor-to-ceiling windows.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Across millions of interactions, the system drifts towards flattery.—
Tim Requarth,
Longreads,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Men in khaki stood with scopes on rooftops nearby, and questions among newer protesters circulated.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Jonathan Cook testified that police also found 100 other firearms, scopes and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Furthermore, the formula wears seamlessly, sans pilling, beneath foundation, which glides on like silk.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mortal Kombat 2 will focus on the Mortal Kombat tournament, the big battle in which warriors from different realms face off against one another in a fight to the bloody finish.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
For Aristotle, relationships are a portal into the realms of the vast and mysterious universe.—
Ross Channing Reed,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was scooping muck from the reaches of his lungs.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Most of these sand-sized fragments in the solar system originate from comets – cold, icy objects from the outer reaches of the solar system.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The lower mowing ranges are commonly used for recreational turf areas that are more intensively managed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Time-to-target ranges between 15 and 20 minutes at maximum distance.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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