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a
: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area
b
: having a curving line or form
2
a
: extensive
sweeping reforms
b
: marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion
sweeping generalities
sweepingly
adverb
sweepingness
noun
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
The porch needs a good sweeping.
Adjective
a sweeping view of the valley
He dismissed the idea with a sweeping motion of his arm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hadas Gold, CNN, 27 Feb. 2023
Think Blue outreach and education initiative to make the public more aware of stormwater pollution and the need for street sweeping.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2022
In addition, people can sign up for email notifications, which are sent 24 and 48 hours before the scheduled sweeping, at streetsla.lacity.org/sweeping.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021
The celebrations for the Lunar New Year last for fifteen days, starting with a traditional sweeping of the home, according to Jan Stuart, a curator at the Freer and Sackler Galleries at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2023
Street sweeping may not be the only thing to fall by the wayside, as storms often bring power outages.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Jan. 2023
The federal government has accused him of orchestrating a sweeping, yearslong fraud that culminated in the bankruptcy of FTX last month after the crypto equivalent of a bank run.
—Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2022
Over 40 people delayed the sweeping of a South Dallas homeless encampment on Friday morning, blocking off the camp with their bodies and cars.
—Dallas News, 22 July 2022
Scientists have started investigating the science behind guiding the stone down the ice to its target, the house, through the player's vigorous sweeping.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2010
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 1 Mar. 2023
The cuts come as billionaire Mr. Musk has been pursuing sweeping changes to the platform, including slashing costs, releasing new features and changing content-moderation policies.
—Alexa Corse, WSJ, 26 Feb. 2023
Justice Kavanaugh also mulled whether Congress, not the court, should be responsible for making any sweeping Section 230 changes.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 22 Feb. 2023
Even with the arrival of sweeping changes to how fans consume FC Cincinnati broadcasts thanks to Major League Soccer's $2.5 billion Apple TV deal, a pair of familiar voices is still returning to call FCC matches.
—The Enquirer, 22 Feb. 2023
But secondly, enforcing sweeping changes like sanctions or decarbonization will depend on widespread intergovernmental cooperation—something Western governments have not managed to mobilize against Russia.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2023
The legislation proposes sweeping changes to Florida’s libel and defamation law.
—Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023
As Wu works to remake Boston, proposing sweeping changes to the development process in particular, many nervous executives are looking to the new governor as industry’s ally.
—Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Feb. 2023
This year, Pisces season is bringing along sweeping change thanks to Saturn, the Planet of Restriction and Karma, also moving into the sign of the fish.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 16 Feb. 2023
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Noun
The most sweeping of these changes would give the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, power to overturn Supreme Court decisions and would fundamentally change how judges are chosen.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 27 Feb. 2023
Think Blue outreach and education initiative to make the public more aware of stormwater pollution and the need for street sweeping.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2022
In addition, people can sign up for email notifications, which are sent 24 and 48 hours before the scheduled sweeping, at streetsla.lacity.org/sweeping.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021
The celebrations for the Lunar New Year last for fifteen days, starting with a traditional sweeping of the home, according to Jan Stuart, a curator at the Freer and Sackler Galleries at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2023
Street sweeping may not be the only thing to fall by the wayside, as storms often bring power outages.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Jan. 2023
The federal government has accused him of orchestrating a sweeping, yearslong fraud that culminated in the bankruptcy of FTX last month after the crypto equivalent of a bank run.
—Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2022
Over 40 people delayed the sweeping of a South Dallas homeless encampment on Friday morning, blocking off the camp with their bodies and cars.
—Dallas News, 22 July 2022
Scientists have started investigating the science behind guiding the stone down the ice to its target, the house, through the player's vigorous sweeping.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2010
Adjective
The chain faced a messy fight with activist investors last year who criticized the company’s performance and called for sweeping changes and pushed Kohl’s to spin off its online business, sell its real estate or take the company private.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 1 Mar. 2023
The cuts come as billionaire Mr. Musk has been pursuing sweeping changes to the platform, including slashing costs, releasing new features and changing content-moderation policies.
—Alexa Corse, WSJ, 26 Feb. 2023
Justice Kavanaugh also mulled whether Congress, not the court, should be responsible for making any sweeping Section 230 changes.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 22 Feb. 2023
Even with the arrival of sweeping changes to how fans consume FC Cincinnati broadcasts thanks to Major League Soccer's $2.5 billion Apple TV deal, a pair of familiar voices is still returning to call FCC matches.
—The Enquirer, 22 Feb. 2023
But secondly, enforcing sweeping changes like sanctions or decarbonization will depend on widespread intergovernmental cooperation—something Western governments have not managed to mobilize against Russia.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2023
The legislation proposes sweeping changes to Florida’s libel and defamation law.
—Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023
As Wu works to remake Boston, proposing sweeping changes to the development process in particular, many nervous executives are looking to the new governor as industry’s ally.
—Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Feb. 2023
This year, Pisces season is bringing along sweeping change thanks to Saturn, the Planet of Restriction and Karma, also moving into the sign of the fish.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 16 Feb. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sweeping.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Phrases Containing sweeping
Dictionary Entries Near sweeping
Cite this Entry
“Sweeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweeping. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
sweeping
1 of 2 noun
sweep·ing
1
: the act or action of one that sweeps
2
plural
: things collected by sweeping
sweeping
2 of 2 adjective1
a
: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area
b
: having a curving line or form
2
: broad sense 5
sweeping reforms
sweeping generalizations
sweepingly
adverb
ˈswē-piŋ-lē
More from Merriam-Webster on sweeping
Nglish: Translation of sweeping for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sweeping for Arabic Speakers
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