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
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
As the cold front sweeps the state, Southern Idaho could see wind gusts of more than 40 mph as well as significant snow at elevations above 6,000 feet.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Southern cities are forecast to see 70-degree highs on Thursday, March 26, before a cold front sweeps them away.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said her 800 members are always on alert for the possibility of immigration sweeps during a panel discussion about the report hosted by the Bay Area Council.
—Sara Dinatale, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
Confrontational immigration sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities where mayors and governors fought him in federal court.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Under Noem, intense enforcement operations were launched in places including Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis, where immigrants were rounded up in arrest sweeps and protesters clashed with federal officers.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
For now, Lee’s popularity among both Oakland residents and the council has meant that even the most fervent supporters of sweeps aren’t criticizing her plan — at least not publicly.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
Adding door sweeps can also help close gaps at the threshold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead of detaining recent border crossers almost exclusively, Dilley is now also housing families that had established lives in the United States and were arrested in ICE sweeps.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
As the cold front sweeps the state, Southern Idaho could see wind gusts of more than 40 mph as well as significant snow at elevations above 6,000 feet.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Southern cities are forecast to see 70-degree highs on Thursday, March 26, before a cold front sweeps them away.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said her 800 members are always on alert for the possibility of immigration sweeps during a panel discussion about the report hosted by the Bay Area Council.
—Sara Dinatale, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
Confrontational immigration sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities where mayors and governors fought him in federal court.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
Under Noem, intense enforcement operations were launched in places including Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis, where immigrants were rounded up in arrest sweeps and protesters clashed with federal officers.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
For now, Lee’s popularity among both Oakland residents and the council has meant that even the most fervent supporters of sweeps aren’t criticizing her plan — at least not publicly.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
Adding door sweeps can also help close gaps at the threshold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead of detaining recent border crossers almost exclusively, Dilley is now also housing families that had established lives in the United States and were arrested in ICE sweeps.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
Kurt's key takeaways The TriZetto breach highlights how much personal health data flows through technology companies that most patients never see.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Gulf sits at the center of the new world economy — a hub for global finance, energy, trade, and capital flows that touch every major market on earth.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
When motion curves around a central point, its angle is measured in radians; one full rotation is equal to 2π.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wandering through the wash, the mind drifts not to the film but to the flash floods that move through this channel after heavy rains, sudden torrents cutting and reshaping the valley floor in a matter of hours.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 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
-
This makes less noise because the squeegee glides more smoothly across your windshield.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Perfect for compact rooms and overnight guests, the space-saving chair features an adjustable backrest and pull-out base that easily glides into place.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Plenty of other realms remain unrestricted.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Although their military prowess was undeniable, their efficient administrative practices, political organization, and governance strategies were just as important in solidifying their realms.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
James Stirling and the botanist Charles Frazer to examine the reaches of the Swan River.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The northern lights result from electrons colliding with the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This process produced an elastomer that could maintain performance across extreme temperature ranges and low-pressure environments.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Military police are often the only armed personnel on base, outside of shooting ranges, hunting areas or in training, where soldiers can wield their service weapons without ammunition.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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