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
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Farther south, snow chances drop off, though lighter accumulations are possible as a secondary snow band sweeps through tonight, the National Weather Service said.
—Brandi D. Addison, Des Moines Register, 20 Jan. 2026
In the video, the couple shares a sweet kiss and spins around on the lawn until Harry dips his wife and sweeps her off her feet.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
From the edge of Dan and Amy Macuga’s backyard, the view sweeps south, down a hillside, across a valley traced by Interstate 80 and up into the mountains surrounding Park City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Dangerous winter weather sweeps across the Midwest and East Coast this weekend with snow squalls, subzero wind chills and up to 4 inches of snow.
—Juan A. Lozano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Gusty winds and occasional bursts of snow will make Friday feel wintry across the Kansas City metro as a fast-moving cold front sweeps through, with much colder air settling in for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
As warm air sweeps over the region, cold air already permeating the area drains into the valleys.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Central Texas’ recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather is set to end Friday as a strong cold front sweeps across the Lone Star State.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
New York charges a tax of 51% on sportsbooks, but not on sweeps, daily fantasy, bookie accounts and offshore sportsbooks.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Justice Brett Kavanaugh largely upheld ICE sweeps in Los Angeles that indiscriminately targeted Latinos suspected of being undocumented.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
—Rebecca Santana, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Encampment sweeps can result in more fatal overdoses, and discourage people from seeking treatment, according to a study published in June in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
—Albert Chern, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s then mayor London Breed also spoke in favor of ordering these sweeps; her comments projected an image of being tough on crime, stating explicitly that anyone who refused help from the government would be removed from the streets.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
In July, a farmworker in the country illegally fell to his death during an immigration raid in Camarillo, part of her district, and fear of other sweeps prompted the recent cancellation of a holiday parade in her hometown of Santa Barbara.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Custom of the Country was Wharton’s great American novel, and Undine Spragg sweeps across America and through Europe at top speed, during a time of immense economic and social change.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Farther south, snow chances drop off, though lighter accumulations are possible as a secondary snow band sweeps through tonight, the National Weather Service said.
—Brandi D. Addison, Des Moines Register, 20 Jan. 2026
In the video, the couple shares a sweet kiss and spins around on the lawn until Harry dips his wife and sweeps her off her feet.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
From the edge of Dan and Amy Macuga’s backyard, the view sweeps south, down a hillside, across a valley traced by Interstate 80 and up into the mountains surrounding Park City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Dangerous winter weather sweeps across the Midwest and East Coast this weekend with snow squalls, subzero wind chills and up to 4 inches of snow.
—Juan A. Lozano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Gusty winds and occasional bursts of snow will make Friday feel wintry across the Kansas City metro as a fast-moving cold front sweeps through, with much colder air settling in for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
As warm air sweeps over the region, cold air already permeating the area drains into the valleys.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Central Texas’ recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather is set to end Friday as a strong cold front sweeps across the Lone Star State.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
According to Bock, some of the individuals picked up in ICE sweeps are now being held at the jail where she is being held until she is sentenced.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
New York charges a tax of 51% on sportsbooks, but not on sweeps, daily fantasy, bookie accounts and offshore sportsbooks.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Justice Brett Kavanaugh largely upheld ICE sweeps in Los Angeles that indiscriminately targeted Latinos suspected of being undocumented.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
—Rebecca Santana, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Encampment sweeps can result in more fatal overdoses, and discourage people from seeking treatment, according to a study published in June in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
—Albert Chern, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s then mayor London Breed also spoke in favor of ordering these sweeps; her comments projected an image of being tough on crime, stating explicitly that anyone who refused help from the government would be removed from the streets.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
In July, a farmworker in the country illegally fell to his death during an immigration raid in Camarillo, part of her district, and fear of other sweeps prompted the recent cancellation of a holiday parade in her hometown of Santa Barbara.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
Vera cautions that reactivating Venezuela’s economic growth will be a medium- to-long-term task, but that when the feeling of political change is real, everything flows better, and the feeling of opportunity in the country is real right now.—
Solly Boussidan,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Then, as Venus and the sun move into Aquarius, communication flows more freely, making flirting fun again and conversations easier.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 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
-
Scott drifts from room to room in his shades, thanking staff and talking through the bones of the place.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2026
-
To maintain width on the opposite side, the right-sided attacking midfielder, Riley McGree, drifts out to the touchline, while the two remaining attacking midfielders move inside to occupy the left and right half-spaces as narrow No 10s.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Homegrown Indian brands, such as Bombay Perfumery and Forest Essentials, are in the scopes of beauty experts.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Radar scopes in the tower showed the targets tightening around his position.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to the soothing and anti-aging ingredients, the serum has a lightweight gel texture that glides onto the skin and absorbs quickly, too.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The serum’s texture is smooth and easily glides onto the skin, without leaving an oily residue.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The kaleidoscopic House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe is an immersive, otherworldly art installation featuring rooms that virtually transport you to different realms.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
-
There is more ascending and descending between realms, with talk of getting to heaven and going down.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some of these skew toward the quirkier side, and a couple are blatant reaches (January wish lists are where our most delirious aspirations belong, after all).—
Ava Wallace,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
-
For years, residents living amid the tracts of suburban sprawl and bucolic farmland along Santa Clara County’s southern reaches often traveled upwards of an hour by car to seek cardiac care in San Jose.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Although some cars available in China, including Tesla's long-range Model Y and Zeekr 7X, produced by Volvo owner Geely, also advertise ranges above 800 km.—
Marie Mannes,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Alpine village-style lodging ranges from basic hotel rooms to five-bedroom mountaintop townhomes, where guests can ski out their back doors.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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