SWEEPS Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

sweeps 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sweep

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

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

straightens

sweeps

2 of 2

noun

plural of sweep

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

Verb

The Pitt and Widow’s Bay finally capped off their awards sweeps for the night, foregone conclusions by that point. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026 Intimate and immersive, the film sweeps across four years and a dozen countries. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 Big Ant, who sweeps stalls for the Compton Cowboys, shares his emotions only with his pony. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The new study, however, hypothesizes that shell direction is not itself an adaptive response, but rather is an accidental marker of a significant evolutionary event that starts in a small subpopulation and then sweeps across vast ocean basins. — Quanta Magazine, 11 Sep. 2026 That definition now sweeps in clothing from the late 2000s and early 2010s, transforming collections remembered by many shoppers as contemporary fashion into searchable archive material. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026 Lunar eclipses are also completely safe to view with the naked eye, or even through a pair of binoculars of a telescope, which will offer a magnified view of the moon as Earth's shadow sweeps across its cratered landscape. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Newsom has kicked off debate over far-reaching proposals that could impact Californians’ home insurance prices, utility bills and who makes their community whole when electrical equipment sparks a wildfire that sweeps into their town. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Metallic teal foil sweeps across a neutral base, giving this otherwise simple manicure an artsy edge that feels effortless on short nails. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

The hottest team this side of Philadelphia is in Kansas City, where the Royals have won eight in a row, thanks to consecutive sweeps of the A’s and Tigers. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Recent sweeps have focused on payment terminals at stores and ATMs where skimming activity is suspected. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Vendors said enforcement sweeps that began earlier this year have threatened their livelihoods, with authorities confiscating vending equipment and, in some cases, destroying it. — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 Instead of operations aimed at specific individuals, federal agents increasingly conducted sweeps outside of Home Depot storefronts — where day laborers have long gathered to be hired for work. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 That was a welcome change for the down-on-their-luck Dodgers, who entered having lost eight of nine, including sweeps by the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Contributing to the lower-than-expected operating income were four-game sweeps in early rounds of the NBA playoffs and the impact of a network carriage dispute. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 The third wave of sweeps occurred between Friday midday and Saturday morning, draining 208 Bitcoin from 1,912 addresses. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 The site also reported that, despite Flock’s not sharing data with agencies like ICE, police officers have been performing searches to aid in immigration sweeps. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps

Verb

Doubt and conflict flows through not just her searching eyes but also, in this case, a shrinking, defensive posture.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
After all, if cellular biology flows from physics and chemistry through a set of logical laws and processes, maybe there is only one path between the three.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of flows

Verb

Out front, a striking carport canopy dramatically curves over the angled driveway, suspended by slender steel support columns.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026
The aircraft, a C-17, is taller than any commercial vessel; ten feet above her head, the ceiling curves like a spaceship.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of curves

Noun

MacGregor has signed contracts with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard to supply comprehensive roll-on/roll-off equipment for the two vessels, marking one of its most extensive scopes for roll-on/roll-off passenger ferries to date.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
As marketing departments respond to these market changes, procurement executives’ scopes are evolving in parallel.

— Michelle Douglas, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of scopes

Verb

Our low, bargelike vessel drifts serenely, unhurriedly along the brown river.

— Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Like the Argentinian, Mora drifts freely between the lines, demanding the ball from team-mates before driving purposefully at goal.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of drifts

Noun

In addition to his glitzy looks for celebrities and public figures of all realms, Mackie also tried his hand at retail in the ‘80s, launching lines of lingerie, fine jewelry and fragrances.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Trump does have expertise in a handful of realms, such as construction, entertainment, and men’s discount shoeware.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of realms

Verb

Viewed through a singular perspective, the camera glides with measured precision, reflecting her focus and quiet intensity.

— Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Start your visit with a ride on the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola, which glides above the treetops to reveal sweeping views of the Presidential Range painted in brilliant shades of crimson, amber and gold.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of glides

Noun

By contrast, modern proponents of the existence of a ninth planet focus their searches further out, looking instead to orbital peculiarities in smaller objects that occupy the distant reaches of the solar system.

— Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026
In the upper reaches of the wealth distribution, the advantages of entrepreneurship appear stark.

— Eric Zwick, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of reaches

Noun

Pooling of sea water is possible around high tide at beach areas that is uncommon with normal tidal ranges.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Technological advances have already made drones cheaply and readily available for purchase, with longer ranges, higher payloads, and an improved ability to evade electronic warfare.

— Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026