Synonyms of sweeps

sweeps 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sweep

1

as in flows

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

the wind swept across the plain without respite

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flows
• drifts
• glides
• cruises
• sails
• slips
• brushes
• rolls
• streams
• slides
• races
• bowls
• rushes
• flies
• speeds
• breezes
• whisks
• coasts
• skims

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggles
• stumbles
• flounders
• shuffles
• limps
• trudges
• plods
• lumbers
• stamps
• stomps
• stumps
• toils
• labors
• tramps
• shambles

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

• curves
• rounds
• trends
• bows
• turns
• bends
• winds
• falls off
• swerves
• arches
• arcs
• wheels
• loops
• hooks
• curls
• spirals
• circles
• crooks
• coils
• curlicues
• deviates
• veers
• twists

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

• confines
• scopes
• realms
• reaches
• ranges
• extents
• widths
• dimensions
• amplitudes
• compasses
• circles
• breadths
• elements
• spectra
• spreads
• ambits
• domains
• regions
• provinces
• departments
• spheres
• disciplines
• fields
• specialties
• frontiers
• fiefs
• horizons
• terrains
• fiefdoms
• bailiwicks
• gamuts
• panoramas
• demesnes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sweeps

Verb

This summer, as record-breaking heat sweeps across Europe and the United States, millions of people are searching for a way to cool off. — Kathy Baughman McLeod, Time, 4 Aug. 2026

That includes the Washington DC area, where the eclipse will be visible for a portion of the afternoon as the total solar eclipse sweeps over Greenland, Iceland, Northern Russian, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and part of Portugal. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

In addition to the latest iteration of Hadestown on the stage, the show is also making headlines as a pro-shot of the Broadway production sweeps through movie theaters. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 2026

As the drone flies, the rushing wind sweeps through the wing, naturally cooling the receiver’s back. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

Sealing gaps with fresh window caulk, adding door sweeps to block drafts, and switching to LED bulbs can help lower everyday energy use. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

Juniper trees, myrtle bushes, vineyards, and aromatic herbs flourish under the influence of the Maestrale, the strong northwesterly wind that sweeps across Sardinia year-round. — Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

This day in sports history 1920 — The United States sweeps Australia in five matches to win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1913. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

At least one person has died as flash flooding sweeps through Texas Hill Country, where rivers rose rapidly following heavy rainfall and rescue operations remain under way. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Noun

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

There have been some cases of large enforcement at agricultural workplaces, including immigration sweeps in July 2025 at two Southern California cannabis farms that led to the arrests of more than 300 people. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Mayor Eric Adams prioritized eliminating encampments by pursuing an aggressive strategy of criminalization and encampment sweeps led by the NYPD, and expanded use of involuntary hospitalizations. — Dave Giffen, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026

Jiang said that guests will go through airport-like sweeps and will see more visible security. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 July 2026

While rumors initially claimed ICE was targeting fans, OutKick confirmed at the time that the personnel was actually California Border Control agents conducting routine operations unrelated to local sweeps. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Barely-there complexions, softly enhanced with strategic sweeps of lit-from-within blush and shimmer, feel modern and IRL-friendly. — Lauren Valenti, InStyle, 17 July 2026

The music is a source of pleasure even as Torres and Solano stay vigilant to avoid city encampment sweeps. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026