SWEEPS Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

sweeps 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sweep

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

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

straightens

sweeps

2 of 2

noun

plural of sweep

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sweeps

Verb

Australia And New Zealand Australia takes center stage as totality sweeps across Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Sydney and the Blue Mountains before crossing the Outback. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 As the moon moves in its orbit, that narrow shadow sweeps across Earth’s surface, creating what’s known as the path of totality. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 This summer, as record-breaking heat sweeps across Europe and the United States, millions of people are searching for a way to cool off. — Kathy Baughman McLeod, Time, 4 Aug. 2026 That includes the Washington DC area, where the eclipse will be visible for a portion of the afternoon as the total solar eclipse sweeps over Greenland, Iceland, Northern Russian, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and part of Portugal. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 In addition to the latest iteration of Hadestown on the stage, the show is also making headlines as a pro-shot of the Broadway production sweeps through movie theaters. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 2026 As the drone flies, the rushing wind sweeps through the wing, naturally cooling the receiver’s back. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026 Sealing gaps with fresh window caulk, adding door sweeps to block drafts, and switching to LED bulbs can help lower everyday energy use. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 This day in sports history 1920 — The United States sweeps Australia in five matches to win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1913. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Noun

Instead of operations aimed at specific individuals, federal agents increasingly conducted sweeps outside of Home Depot storefronts — where day laborers have long gathered to be hired for work. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 That was a welcome change for the down-on-their-luck Dodgers, who entered having lost eight of nine, including sweeps by the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Contributing to the lower-than-expected operating income were four-game sweeps in early rounds of the NBA playoffs and the impact of a network carriage dispute. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 The third wave of sweeps occurred between Friday midday and Saturday morning, draining 208 Bitcoin from 1,912 addresses. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 The site also reported that, despite Flock’s not sharing data with agencies like ICE, police officers have been performing searches to aid in immigration sweeps. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 Mayor Eric Adams prioritized eliminating encampments by pursuing an aggressive strategy of criminalization and encampment sweeps led by the NYPD, and expanded use of involuntary hospitalizations. — Dave Giffen, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 Jiang said that guests will go through airport-like sweeps and will see more visible security. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 July 2026 While rumors initially claimed ICE was targeting fans, OutKick confirmed at the time that the personnel was actually California Border Control agents conducting routine operations unrelated to local sweeps. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweeps

Verb

The Blanco is a tributary of the San Marcos, which flows into the Guadalupe, and on into the Gulf of Mexico.

— Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
The sticking point has been over control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil normally flows.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of flows

Verb

Uganda, a country that curves around Lake Victoria, took on a completely different shape.

— Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.

— David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026

Definition of curves

Noun

In the realms of art, literature, film, and television, words and images that would once have been considered indecent, offensive, or immoral are now commonplace, especially in the West.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
That’s perhaps not much comfort to the Philippines and other rival claimants to the South China Sea who are on the receiving end of Chinese hard power — in a world where, increasingly, in both the physical and digital realms, might makes right.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of realms

Verb

Start your visit with a ride on the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola, which glides above the treetops to reveal sweeping views of the Presidential Range painted in brilliant shades of crimson, amber and gold.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The dynamic is at its best when Judah glides over IsoKeys’ beats like two kids trying to be suave while hopping an MTA turnstile with one tap.

— Lei Takanashi, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026

Definition of glides

Noun

This process provides a snapshot of the conditions during a specific time in the universe’s history and allows astrochemists to study the chemical processes that take place in the far reaches of the universe.

— Olivia Harper Wilkins, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Confident snorkelers should head to Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, which occupies the northern reaches of Ambergris Caye near the Belize–Mexico border.

— Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of reaches

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sweeps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweeps. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sweeps

verb

noun

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