sweeping

noun

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sweep·ing | \ ˈswē-piŋ

Definition of sweeping

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the act or action of one that sweeps gave the room a good sweeping

2 sweepings plural : things collected by sweeping : refuse

sweeping

adjective

Definition of sweeping (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area

b : having a curving line or form

2a : extensive sweeping reforms

b : marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion sweeping generalities

Other Words from sweeping Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About sweeping

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Synonyms & Antonyms for sweeping

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

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Examples of sweeping in a Sentence

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: Noun There’s no light shift, there’s no theatrical sweeping, reality-changing moment. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 Sep. 2021 The drop in trash collection is compounded by a 50 percent reduction in street sweeping, which began during the pandemic suspension of alternate-side-of-the-street parking and still has not returned to its regular levels. — Diana Budds, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2021 Beyond that, city officials have found that in recent years vehicles will sometimes remain in parking spots indefinitely, which not only hurts businesses but causes a problem with snow removal and street sweeping, Cosentino said. — Gloria Casas, chicagotribune.com, 26 Aug. 2021 This time, the Tigers did the sweeping by winning a July 17 doubleheader and the July 18 finale. — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 30 July 2021 Residents and business owners have concerns about the bikeway’s impact on commercial loading, trash pickup, street sweeping and access to emergency vehicles. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2021 Property owners in Logan Heights pay an additional property tax to fund regular sidewalk sweeping, trash collection, tree trimming and graffiti removal. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2021 The sweeping For the People Act, which was passed by the House in March, would bar states from limiting voting by mail, would require prepaid postage on absentee ballots and would mandate voter registration on the same day as the election. — Paul Leblanc, CNN, 21 June 2021 These districts are supposed to provide property owners with services that go beyond those routinely provided by the city, such as regular sidewalk and street sweeping, trash collection, tree trimming and graffiti removal. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In the meantime, the news barely covers what is in the sweeping legislation, including an original provision that would pave the way to free community college for everyone. — Robert Farrington, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021 In many cases, detainees were subjected to beatings, humiliation and psychological abuse, according to a sweeping report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch. — Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2021 Yale economist Stephen Roach, meanwhile, was more pessimistic about the long-term implications of Beijing's sweeping effort to rein in private firms. — Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2021 The lawmakers used a controversial provision of the state's sweeping new election law to trigger a process that could ultimately lead to a takeover of elections in the county. — CBS News, 12 Oct. 2021 The constitutionality of the sweeping health care reform law championed by President Barack Obama. — CNN, 29 Sep. 2021 Los Angeles is considering a sweeping law requiring adult customers to show proof of full vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, shopping centers, museums, movie theaters and hair and nail salons. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2021 The investigation was the first of its kind launched under a sweeping police accountability law passed in Colorado the month before amid nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. — NBC News, 15 Sep. 2021 The investigation, announced in August 2020, was the first of its kind launched under a sweeping police accountability law passed in Colorado amid protests over the killing of George Floyd. — Fox News, 15 Sep. 2021

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.