SWEPT Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

swept

verb

Definition of swept

past tense of sweep

as in flowed

to move or proceed smoothly and readily the wind swept across the plain without respite

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in curved

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

straightened

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 swept The Lakers made the playoffs in 2013 but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, just weeks after Kobe Bryant suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear. — Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 In the small community of Waiohinu on the southern point of Hawaii's Big Island, a mudslide swept through and destroyed about a dozen homes. — Jonathan Vigliotti, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The floodwaters swept him away, and his body was found three days later, said his niece Priyakshi Gogoi, who lives nearby. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 On a quest to grab one more ring, LeBron James will make his Philly debut on the same night the Knicks, the team that summarily swept the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, get their rings. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 For some time, the world will be without any order at all—swept by fragmentation, contagion, and strangulation or the temptation to weaponize a wide variety of geographic, economic, and technological chokepoints. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Set in a small town where horrifying things get swept under the rug, this novel is perfect for readers looking for catharsis from the patriarchy. — S.m. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 Still, the question of what Ebel was doing with his adepts swept through Prussia, dominating the newspapers that had only recently begun to emerge from their eighteenth-century chronicling of obligations to a more modern publicizing role. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The Wolverines finished third in the Mission League last year after being swept twice by Sierra Canyon and Marymount and are projected to be third again. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swept

Verb

Both Kpler and Windward showed around five ships – total – exited the Strait of Hormuz on the day Wright said 20 million barrels flowed out of the Arab gulf region.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
In Nebraska, millions of federal grant dollars have flowed to a statewide health information exchange nonprofit that has cooperated with the effort.

— Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of flowed

Verb

Reilly two-putted for par, and won the match when Cowan's par putt drifted to the right.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
On Wednesday, Omani authorities said the spill had drifted to reach the mainland, affecting 25 miles (40km) of the Ras Madrakah coastline, more than 124 miles (200km) away from the tanker.

— Sarah El Sirgany, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of drifted

Verb

First-time filmmaker Colette Ghunim´s nuanced and intimate portrait of her Mexican/Palestinian roots, ‘Traces of Home,’ exec produced by Melissa Barrera and John Leguizamo, bowed at DOC NYC.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
The late Queen’s youngest grandchild, who wore a dark suit for the event, took a position at the side of Elizabeth’s coffin and stood with his head bowed as mourners passed.

— Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of bowed

Verb

Some guests have sailed their own boats; few would be caught dead on a big ship.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Rutherford sailed past the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden just a few days ago, and crossed into waters controlled by the Russian government this weekend.

— Henry Larson, NPR, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of sailed

Verb

When exact change cannot be provided, cash totals that end in one, two, six or seven cents may be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by five.

— Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Wearing her waist-length brunette tresses in a middle part, Woodley rounded out her glam with a barely-there makeup look consisting of dewy bronzer, mauve blush, and a matching shade of lip balm.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of rounded

Verb

On Thursday afternoon, Shadow glided into the nest with KD1 not far behind, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that runs the livestream.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Jones, in the first major race of his political career, faces a staunch challenge in Thompson, who has held the seat for 30 years and glided into the general election with almost 41% of the vote.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of glided

Verb

Farage, who was a major player in getting Britain to vote to leave the European Union a decade ago, has had strong polling nationally though his numbers have slipped during months of scrutiny of his finances.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Sanders, a fourth-round pick in 2024, is a downfield receiving threat who had slipped to third on the depth chart behind Tremble and Evans.

— Joseph Person, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026