sweep 1 of 2

1
2
as in to curve
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

sweep

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sweep differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sweep are compass, gamut, orbit, range, and scope. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

When is compass a more appropriate choice than sweep?

In some situations, the words compass and sweep are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When could gamut be used to replace sweep?

While in some cases nearly identical to sweep, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

In what contexts can orbit take the place of sweep?

While the synonyms orbit and sweep are close in meaning, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When might range be a better fit than sweep?

The words range and sweep can be used in similar contexts, but range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

When can scope be used instead of sweep?

The words scope and sweep are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

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 sweep
Verb
Musk and Navarro have escalated their ongoing debate over the administration’s sweeping tariffs, which have sent shockwaves through the stock market since President Trump announced them last week. Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025 The spike in the three major stock indexes erased much of the losses suffered in the aftermath of sweeping new tariffs issued by Trump a week ago. David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
A day after a 10th inning walk-off win followed by an 18-run outburst in their doubleheader sweep of St. Louis, the Red Sox offense was undoubtedly a bit tired, going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Just a subtle sweep of color adds the perfect finishing touch. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep
Verb
  • The liquor flows so freely that the rest room nearly becomes a vomitorium.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The rich sat on deck while the poor were squeezed in the hold below, with no place to relieve themselves, so excrement, vomit, and other wastes flowed down into the lower areas.
    Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Concave tiles, which curve inward, and convex tiles, which curve outward, are installed at different levels along the seawall.
    Sara Pezeshk, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
  • After completing Slither Housing in 2000, an angular yet gently curved 105-unit apartment building in Japan’s Gifu prefecture, the husband-and-wife team increasingly turned its attentions to cultural architecture.
    Oscar Holland, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • With shed space fitted out to complete two yachts ranging from 98-feet to 229-feet and surface area of around 60,000 square feet, the yard has huge scope for future superyacht construction.
    Katia Damborsky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Do Iranian artists find there is more scope for becoming a professional artist in the diaspora?
    Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Texas officials disputed Mexico’s claim that the bodies were tangled in the buoys and said only one body was found and that the person drowned upstream and drifted downstream toward the buoys.
    Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
  • One of the reasons the forward P/E did not fall as much as trailing P/Es is that earnings estimates drifted lower, Clissold noted.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • If all went according to plan, Isar's Spectrum rocket would have arced to the north from Andøya Spaceport in Norway and reached a polar orbit.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
  • One swipe of the club, the dimpled Titleist arcing through the air, hitting the green.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The razor was easier to use on wet skin because the water and soap provided more lubricant to glide along my legs, but the dry shaving was also easy and painless.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Cotton has a rougher feel, whereas silk pillowcases have a smoother, more frictionless surface that not only feels super luxurious but also allows your head to glide effortlessly.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The protests signal the extent of public alarm over some of Trump's executive actions and cuts to federal government.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
  • There, McVeigh was booked and saw on TV the extent of the devastation.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Our intent was not to brush concerns under the carpet but to identify solutions.
    Raul Handa, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Fluoride urine levels vary widely throughout the day depending on hydration level, diet, as well as factors like whether a person has just brushed their teeth or drank a cup of tea, says F. Perry Wilson, a physician and professor of public health and medicine at Yale University.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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