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
Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The state Department of Health is advising Rhode Islanders to get flu shots and take other preventive measures as the illness sweeps through the state.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Thursday is also forecast to be windy with gusts as high as 30 mph as a system sweeps through the area.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, grown-ups will love the infinity pool that sweeps around the headland.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
As the cold front on Saturday sweeps through, expect a rapid cool down to occur with temperatures dipping from around 60 degrees to around 30 degrees by the end of Sunday.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In the grand scheme of campy sitcom silliness, Bewitched sweeps past the competition on a magic broomstick.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Read options with Seals, jet sweeps with Major Everhart and designed deep shots to McAlister and Shelton — TCU used it all in the first half.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Dec. 2025
The very next month, immigration sweeps at a South Sacramento Home Depot led to arrests and protests here.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025
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
One factor potentially driving the surge in demand is San Diego’s decision to expand encampment sweeps.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 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
Inman said officials have also conducted additional searches in the grass area next to Runway 17R and will be doing more sweeps using metal detectors.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Kenley Hamilton and twin sister Kailey totaled 574 digs — 309 by the former and 265 from the latter — that helped the team record 29 sweeps in 40 regular-season matches.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Central Texas’ recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather is set to end Friday as a strong cold front sweeps across the Lone Star State.
—Noun
The government is also shifting immigration officers to Minneapolis from sweeps in Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps
Verb
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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.—
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Then, as Venus and the sun move into Aquarius, communication flows more freely, making flirting fun again and conversations easier.—
Verb
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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.—
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The trail brushes past the Bell Rock formation, then curves away from the road and crosses some red rock ledges offering impressive vistas.—
Verb
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So while snow drifts that mound up alongside a properly insulated house with siding shouldn't be a problem, snow against a door leading to the deck may leak.—
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Cafés spill into afternoon sunlight, window-shopping counts as cardio, and live music drifts out of an old pub.—
Noun
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Homegrown Indian brands, such as Bombay Perfumery and Forest Essentials, are in the scopes of beauty experts.—
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Radar scopes in the tower showed the targets tightening around his position.—
Verb
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The gel texture glides on smoothly, lathers into a plush foam, and rinses clean without leaving skin feeling tight.—
-
Infused with sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and vitamin E, the formula glides onto the skin with ease.—
Noun
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This annual showcase is tied to Rolling Stone‘s annual Future of Music issue, our look at what’s new and what’s next in all realms of music.—
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Beyond this period, 2026 can bring many blessings in the realms of career, finance, creativity, innovation, protection, love, and family.—
Noun
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States in the upper and lower reaches of the basin have struggled for two years to find a workable agreement and failed.—
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Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, with dining and wine events stretching from Fort Lauderdale to the furthest reaches of South Miami-Dade.—
Noun
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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.—
-
Alpine village-style lodging ranges from basic hotel rooms to five-bedroom mountaintop townhomes, where guests can ski out their back doors.—
Cite this Entry
“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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