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
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.
Recent Examples of sweeps
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Afternoon light sweeps across the terrace, casting long shadows along arches and curved walls.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
Krikorian said a more traditional law enforcement approach should trade street sweeps for a greater focus on worksite enforcement – something Homan has advocated for, but which Trump disdains.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
The temperature will plummet overnight Saturday, dropping to about 2 degrees, with a wind chill as low as 14 degrees below in Providence, as arctic air sweeps down into the region, the weather service says.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
After the war, rapid change sweeps through her town during the Reconstruction Era all while Scarlett is dealing with the trials and tribulations of love.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
But in a court hearing Wednesday, the judge heard evidence that agents in Oregon have arrested people in immigration sweeps without such warrants or determining escape was likely.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
But the judge heard evidence that agents in Oregon have arrested people in immigration sweeps without such warrants or determining escape was likely.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Feb. 2026
In Minnesota, the immigration sweeps proceed unabated.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The city’s own data shows that last year, only about 3% of people encountered during encampment sweeps accepted a shelter bed for even a single night, and not one was connected to permanent housing.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Having campus police partner with ICE to assist in militarized immigration operations and sweeps of campus is preposterous.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The sweeps, followed by a 2010 state law that was intended to crack down on undocumented immigrants, caused pervasive fear, not just among people who were in the country unlawfully.
—Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Some of the Best Picture winners won, but there were very few sweeps.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
Nearly 30 Valley View students as well as parents or caregivers have been detained by federal officers during the immigration sweeps, according to Kuhlman.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Make sure screens and door sweeps are intact.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
That scenario isn’t relevant to the current ICE sweeps, which take place in cities far from the border.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Curler Rich Ruohonen spoke out as well on Tuesday, condemning immigration sweeps in his home state of Minnesota.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Afternoon light sweeps across the terrace, casting long shadows along arches and curved walls.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
Krikorian said a more traditional law enforcement approach should trade street sweeps for a greater focus on worksite enforcement – something Homan has advocated for, but which Trump disdains.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
The temperature will plummet overnight Saturday, dropping to about 2 degrees, with a wind chill as low as 14 degrees below in Providence, as arctic air sweeps down into the region, the weather service says.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
After the war, rapid change sweeps through her town during the Reconstruction Era all while Scarlett is dealing with the trials and tribulations of love.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
But in a court hearing Wednesday, the judge heard evidence that agents in Oregon have arrested people in immigration sweeps without such warrants or determining escape was likely.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
But the judge heard evidence that agents in Oregon have arrested people in immigration sweeps without such warrants or determining escape was likely.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Feb. 2026
In Minnesota, the immigration sweeps proceed unabated.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
The two laws at issue grew out of concern among Democrats that officers conducting the federal administration’s aggressive immigration sweeps were generally wearing masks and bore little or no identification.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The city’s own data shows that last year, only about 3% of people encountered during encampment sweeps accepted a shelter bed for even a single night, and not one was connected to permanent housing.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Having campus police partner with ICE to assist in militarized immigration operations and sweeps of campus is preposterous.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The sweeps, followed by a 2010 state law that was intended to crack down on undocumented immigrants, caused pervasive fear, not just among people who were in the country unlawfully.
—Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Some of the Best Picture winners won, but there were very few sweeps.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
Nearly 30 Valley View students as well as parents or caregivers have been detained by federal officers during the immigration sweeps, according to Kuhlman.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Make sure screens and door sweeps are intact.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
That scenario isn’t relevant to the current ICE sweeps, which take place in cities far from the border.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
Decline, and the money flows to other states, taking tens of millions in tutoring and academic support with it.—
Shlomo Soroka,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
More than a third of founders were women, a signal of inclusion in an industry where capital still overwhelmingly flows to men.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
About 10 minutes outside Page is Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado curves through the vibrant red rock, making for a magnificent sight.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Maggie Daley Park Chicago The quarter-mile outdoor skating ribbon in Maggie Daley Park—with 27,500 feet of ice surface—is a looping path with slight elevation changes that curves past pine trees, a rock climbing wall, and a gorgeous city view.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the teaser, Cliff lounges at a bar, drifts through a few film sets, and tears around a dirt track in a derby car.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 Feb. 2026
-
As the subconscious Moon drifts into your subtle 12th house, your optimistic spirit benefits from tranquility.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
First focal plane scopes with MRAD reticles rule the roost in PRS and other field match series.—
John B. Snow,
Outdoor Life,
15 Jan. 2026
-
One white general contractor controls both major scopes of work.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a reason curlers sweep as the stone glides across the ice in search of the house — or, better yet, the button.—
Keith McMillan,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
As the camera glides in and around a roller-skating rink, where much of the action takes place, Decker and Shlesinger achieve and sustain a terrific balance of comic velocity and erotic languor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The rivalry is also spilling into other realms, including the Super Bowl.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
However, after people serve their time in the hells, they can be reborn in other realms.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The endangered species migrates each summer from Mexico into the southernmost reaches of the United States.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to Nahmias, the low-top shoe’s design is meant to capture the mountainous ranges that meet the water throughout California and features an upper inspired by a popular skate shoe paired with an exaggerated sole made of lightweight materials.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
When forces remain within safe ranges, the signals reflect ordinary interaction.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
