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
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Other cities and towns have passed moratoriums on data centers, as a wave of opposition sweeps the country.
—Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Eager to get a closer look at the lunar disk as the line separating night from day sweeps across its ancient surface in the coming weeks?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Gilgeous-Alexander was named the league’s most valuable player for the second consecutive season and helped Oklahoma City win its first two playoff series in four-game sweeps over the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 31 May 2026
Around the same time, Sheriff Arpaio was building a national profile on the right with immigration sweeps in largely Latino neighborhoods.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Once the roads open and the Miura’s tachometer sweeps past 4,000 rpm, however, your ears are nourished by a cultured snarl that builds to a hammering roar.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
Repair damaged window screens, and install door sweeps on exterior doors to help keep them out, Rockwell says.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
Fair enough—but the rule, written for football’s pathologies, sweeps in a sport that already polices itself.
—Daryl G. Jones, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Hochul hit back by suggesting the Knicks are head and shoulders ahead of the Spurs after a reeling off an amazing 11-game playoff winning streak and two straight series sweeps.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 June 2026
The sweeps of color look especially striking from a distance.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
Other spending in the budget appears to rely on numerous fund sweeps that redirect money from one program to another or to the state's General Revenue Fund.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The larger stretch of sweeps started with the Chicago White Sox (May 12-14) and continued in KC’s recent homestand.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Alvarez’s arrest comes as federal authorities have dramatically expanded enforcement operations in the MacArthur Park area, carrying out gang sweeps, immigration operations and narcotics investigations that have frequently put Essayli at odds with city officials and advocacy groups.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Björck managed eight goals and 12 assists for a preposterous 20 points in those three consecutive best-of-five series sweeps.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 May 2026
The Vegas Golden Knights completed one of the more improbable sweeps in Stanley Cup Playoffs history Tuesday night, sending the Avalanche into the offseason with a 2-1 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
Verb
That is, before an actual tornado sweeps through Pine Valley, right in the middle of a black-tie event and in time to boost summer ratings.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Other cities and towns have passed moratoriums on data centers, as a wave of opposition sweeps the country.
—Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Eager to get a closer look at the lunar disk as the line separating night from day sweeps across its ancient surface in the coming weeks?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Gilgeous-Alexander was named the league’s most valuable player for the second consecutive season and helped Oklahoma City win its first two playoff series in four-game sweeps over the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 31 May 2026
Around the same time, Sheriff Arpaio was building a national profile on the right with immigration sweeps in largely Latino neighborhoods.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Once the roads open and the Miura’s tachometer sweeps past 4,000 rpm, however, your ears are nourished by a cultured snarl that builds to a hammering roar.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
Repair damaged window screens, and install door sweeps on exterior doors to help keep them out, Rockwell says.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
Fair enough—but the rule, written for football’s pathologies, sweeps in a sport that already polices itself.
—Daryl G. Jones, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
During recent sweeps, vendors with licenses have also been arrested and ticketed, according to the Street Vendor Association, which has been tracking the enforcement.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Hochul hit back by suggesting the Knicks are head and shoulders ahead of the Spurs after a reeling off an amazing 11-game playoff winning streak and two straight series sweeps.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 June 2026
The sweeps of color look especially striking from a distance.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
Other spending in the budget appears to rely on numerous fund sweeps that redirect money from one program to another or to the state's General Revenue Fund.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The larger stretch of sweeps started with the Chicago White Sox (May 12-14) and continued in KC’s recent homestand.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Alvarez’s arrest comes as federal authorities have dramatically expanded enforcement operations in the MacArthur Park area, carrying out gang sweeps, immigration operations and narcotics investigations that have frequently put Essayli at odds with city officials and advocacy groups.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Björck managed eight goals and 12 assists for a preposterous 20 points in those three consecutive best-of-five series sweeps.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 May 2026
The Vegas Golden Knights completed one of the more improbable sweeps in Stanley Cup Playoffs history Tuesday night, sending the Avalanche into the offseason with a 2-1 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
But perhaps most controversial is how the update will affect the program’s multibillion-dollar revenue, which flows into the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund each year and is distributed to various programs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The streets are worse, the parks are underfunded, code enforcement is slower, and city investment consistently flows to other parts of town.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The dials are all adorned with a railway minute track that curves around every petal to accentuate the flower’s form.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
-
The Page style has a narrow slingback strap, a slim stiletto heel and an open front that curves into a small, petal-like peep-toe rather than a sharp cutout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Smoke from the front burners has farther to travel, and a lot of it drifts sideways into the kitchen before the hood can catch it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
The smell of simmering garlic and tomatoes drifts through the casual dining rooms where families gather around crowded tables.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Specify in scopes of work and editorial guidelines that detector scores are advisory, not pass/fail metrics.—
Uri Samet,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The defense argued the searches were outside the scopes of the various search policies and police were illegally looking for incriminating evidence rather than performing legitimate safety or inventory searches.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In the warmer months, don’t skip a ride on The Morgan, Sagamore’s cruising vessel that glides around Lake George.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
With a blend of peptides, olive oil, and vitamin E, this pencil glides on without any dragging or pilling.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Most of the month encourages you to rest, reflect and process what has been going on behind the scenes, especially since Cancer season brings focus to your (12th house) private life and subconscious realms.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
Some of these approaches require meticulous scholarship and technical proficiency; others, an attunement to the invisible realms of feeling and folklore.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The work always started overnight, and the high reaches and lifts stayed up through the morning, even as guests entered the park.—
Megan duBois,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The bureau found a trend of growth in the furthest reaches of the county.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Reports have revealed that the S2087 is a proven, high‑performance towed array sonar designed to detect and track quiet submarines over long ranges in complex littoral and open‑ocean environments.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
Congressional candidates are required to report their assets only in broad ranges.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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