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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Mysterious wave of bot traffic sweeps the web In recent weeks, websites large and small have seen dramatic spikes in visitors with IP addresses in Lanzhou, China — a manufacturing-heavy city that’s not known as a tech hub — with some of the visits routed through Singapore.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Our first real rain chance of the month arrives Saturday as a potent storm system sweeps across the Lone Star State.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Most notable is the addition of an interchangeable dual-lace wrap, which sweeps from the barely there midsole and finishes with a bow atop the standard shoelaces.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
On that day, the moon will completely cover the sun for several minutes along a narrow path of totality that sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Its members are pushing legislation to accelerate encampment sweeps and eliminate a longstanding local requirement that the city offer shelter to residents when forcing them to move.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
Manu and her mother are immigrants and she’s used to hiding under the bed when ICE does sweeps of the neighborhood.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Anonymous / Getty Images Other activist groups outside Iran have also been working to document the sweeps.
—CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Other activist groups outside Iran have also been working to document the sweeps.
—ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
The art of grappling consists of throws, trips, sweeps, clinches, ground fighting, submission holds and takedowns.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The statement came as Native Americans are often caught up in sweeps being conducted by ICE.
—Ben Fenwick, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Feb. 2026
California was proving ground for immigration sweeps The militarized immigration sweeps that led to two deaths in Minneapolis began in California last year, with series of raids in Los Angeles in June that kicked of months of protests and legal wrangling.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
But what the script sweeps under, Laurence Olivier’s performance brings back out to some extent.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Mysterious wave of bot traffic sweeps the web In recent weeks, websites large and small have seen dramatic spikes in visitors with IP addresses in Lanzhou, China — a manufacturing-heavy city that’s not known as a tech hub — with some of the visits routed through Singapore.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Our first real rain chance of the month arrives Saturday as a potent storm system sweeps across the Lone Star State.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Most notable is the addition of an interchangeable dual-lace wrap, which sweeps from the barely there midsole and finishes with a bow atop the standard shoelaces.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
On that day, the moon will completely cover the sun for several minutes along a narrow path of totality that sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
Point Loma Nazarene University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams completed three-game sweeps in Hawaii late Saturday night to remain atop their PacWest Conference races.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Its members are pushing legislation to accelerate encampment sweeps and eliminate a longstanding local requirement that the city offer shelter to residents when forcing them to move.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
Manu and her mother are immigrants and she’s used to hiding under the bed when ICE does sweeps of the neighborhood.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Anonymous / Getty Images Other activist groups outside Iran have also been working to document the sweeps.
—CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Other activist groups outside Iran have also been working to document the sweeps.
—ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
The art of grappling consists of throws, trips, sweeps, clinches, ground fighting, submission holds and takedowns.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The statement came as Native Americans are often caught up in sweeps being conducted by ICE.
—Ben Fenwick, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Feb. 2026
California was proving ground for immigration sweeps The militarized immigration sweeps that led to two deaths in Minneapolis began in California last year, with series of raids in Los Angeles in June that kicked of months of protests and legal wrangling.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
-
The rest flows from her marketability and brand partnerships.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Aaron Zettler-Mann, executive director of South Yuba River Citizens League, explained that flows on the lower Yuba River briefly fell following the rupture, stranding young salmon in the rocks along the shore.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What makes barrel jeans popular is their wide, tapered fit that curves out around the mid-leg and then cinches in at the ankle.—
India Roby,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The path begins in Siberia, curves around the North Pole past Greenland and Iceland, then crosses Spain before ending in the Mediterranean sunset.—
Ryan Craggs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The film tells the story 21-year-old Junyang, who drifts through life while his father quietly struggles to hold their modest home together.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Kelly’s mid-30s John drifts through life, straining against his mother Jackie Onassis’s expectations while inhabiting a world that’s so clearly his own personal oyster farm.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
12 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
-
Located at the farthest reaches of Northern California in Siskiyou County, Tule Lake was the most populated and, by many historical accounts, the harshest of the internment camps.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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While more sprawling than ever (be warned, the new D and E concourses can be a hike from the central security area, the airport is still a single, easily navigable terminal, complete with an indoor train to speed you to the further reaches.—
Rachel Morris,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bill would allow local authorities to determine things like setback standards, shadow flicker standards and sound limitations, but only within certain ranges set by the bill.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Long charging times and limited ranges are still two major hurdles that deter many potential EV buyers.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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