1
a
: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area
b
: having a curving line or form
2
a
: extensive
sweeping reforms
b
: marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion
sweeping generalities
sweepingly
adverb
sweepingness
noun
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
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Street sweeping will run from Tuesday, April 1, through November.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Trump’s latest action comes as his sweeping tax and domestic policy bill is facing backlash from one key ally, Elon Musk.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweeping
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Noun
Viewers also see the sealing of the deceased pope’s room and the destruction of his ring, the oaths taken by the cardinals before voting, and the sweeping of the Sistine Chapel for listening devices, all of which are accurate depictions, per CNN.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Street sweeping will run from Tuesday, April 1, through November.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Known for her intimate, sultry sound, Claudio now pushes past her established aesthetic, creating a sweeping, conceptual world that mirrors her personal and artistic evolution.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Trump’s latest action comes as his sweeping tax and domestic policy bill is facing backlash from one key ally, Elon Musk.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweeping
Cite this Entry
“Sweeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweeping. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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