...the long sweeping curve of Rio's Guanabara Bay.
Synonyms: extensive, broad, vast, expansive More Synonyms of sweeping
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone makes a sweeping statement or generalization, they make a statement which applies to all things of a particular kind, although they have not considered all the relevant facts carefully.
[disapproval]
It is far too early to make sweeping statements about gene therapy.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Sweeping changes are large and very important or significant.
The new government has started to make sweeping changes in the economy.
The armed forces would be given sweeping new powers.
...sweeping economic reforms.
Synonyms: wide-ranging, global, comprehensive, wide More Synonyms of sweeping
4. See also sweep
More Synonyms of sweeping
sweeping in British English
(ˈswiːpɪŋ)
adjective
1.
comprehensive and wide-ranging
sweeping reforms
2.
indiscriminate or without reservations
sweeping statements
3.
decisive or overwhelming
a sweeping victory
4.
taking in a wide area
a sweeping glance
5.
driving steadily onwards, esp over a large area
a sweeping attack
Derived forms
sweepingly (ˈsweepingly)
adverb
sweepingness (ˈsweepingness)
noun
sweeping in American English
(ˈswipɪŋ)
adjective
1.
that sweeps; cleansing or carrying away with or as with a broom
2.
reaching in a long curve or line
3.
extending over the whole range or a great space
4.
a.
extensive; comprehensive; thoroughgoing
b.
complete; decisive
c.
indiscriminate
a sweeping generalization
noun
5. [pl.]
things swept up, as dirt, particles, etc. swept from a floor
6.
the act, work, etc. of a person or thing that sweeps
Derived forms
sweepingly (ˈsweepingly)
adverb
Examples of 'sweeping' in a sentence
sweeping
The huge arc of Barton Bridge glittered against the sky, sweeping the motorway over the dark ribbon of the Manchester Ship Canal.
Val McDermid KICK BACK (2002)
By the time I'd locked up she was back again, sweeping past me without a word towards our room.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2002)
He sat back, resting his elbows on his knees, sweeping the glasses over the camp.
Clancy, Tom WITHOUT REMORSE (2002)
In other languages
sweeping
British English: sweeping ADJECTIVE
A sweeping curve is a long wide curve.
...the long sweeping curve of the bay.
American English: sweeping
Brazilian Portuguese: radical
Chinese: 连绵曲折的
European Spanish: dramático
French: large
German: weit ausholend
Italian: ampio
Japanese: ゆったりと湾曲した
Korean: 넓고 긴
European Portuguese: radical
Latin American Spanish: dramático
1 (adjective)
Definition
taking in a wide area
the long sweeping curve of Rio's Guanabara Bay
Synonyms
extensive
This 18th-century manor house is set in extensive grounds.
broad
a broad expanse of lawn
vast
farmers who own vast stretches of land
expansive
an expansive grassy play area
panoramic
the panoramic sweep of his work
spacious
The house has a spacious kitchen and dining area.
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a statement) making general assumptions about an issue without considering the details
sweeping generalizations about ability based on gender
Synonyms
indiscriminate
the indiscriminate arrests during the protests
blanket
the blanket coverage of the Olympics
across-the-board
The President promised across-the-board tax cuts if re-elected.
wholesale
the wholesale destruction of life on this planet
exaggerated
Be sceptical of exaggerated claims for what these products can do.
overstated
unqualified
overdrawn
oversimplified
3 (adjective)
Definition
affecting many people to a great extent
sweeping economic reforms
Synonyms
wide-ranging
a package of wide-ranging economic reforms
global
a global vision of contemporary society
comprehensive
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
wide
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels and holiday homes.
broad
radical
the radical differences between them
extensive
The blast caused extensive damage.
all-inclusive
all-embracing
overarching
thoroughgoing
Opposites
limited
,
narrow
,
minor
,
restricted
,
modest
,
token
,
constrained
,
unimportant
4 (adjective)
Definition
decisive or overwhelming
The election was a sweeping victory for the secular centre left.
Synonyms
decisive
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
total
The car was in a total mess.
I mean I'm not a total idiot.
overwhelming
unconditional
The leader of the revolt made an unconditional surrender.
unqualified
out-and-out
You're an out-and-out liar.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of across-the-board
Definition
affecting everyone in a particular group or place equally
The President promised across-the-board tax cuts if re-elected.
Synonyms
general,
full,
complete,
total,
sweeping,
broad,
widespread,
comprehensive,
universal,
blanket,
thorough,
wholesale,
panoramic,
indiscriminate,
all-inclusive,
wall-to-wall,
all-embracing,
overarching,
all-encompassing,
thoroughgoing,
without exception or omission,
one-size-fits-all
in the sense of blanket
Definition
applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc.
the blanket coverage of the Olympics
Synonyms
comprehensive,
full,
complete,
wide,
sweeping,
broad,
extensive,
wide-ranging,
thorough,
inclusive,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing
in the sense of broad
Definition
of vast extent
a broad expanse of lawn
Synonyms
large,
huge,
comfortable,
vast,
extensive,
ample,
spacious,
expansive,
roomy,
voluminous,
capacious,
uncrowded,
commodious,
beamy,
sizable or sizeable
Nearby words of
sweeping
sweep
sweep something aside
sweep something under the carpet
sweeping
sweet
sweet on
sweet-scented
Related terms of
sweeping
sweep
sweep something aside
Synonyms of 'sweeping'
sweeping
Explore 'sweeping' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of complete
Definition
perfect in quality or kind
He made me look like a complete idiot.
Synonyms
total,
perfect,
absolute,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
consummate,
out-and-out,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
deep-dyed
in the sense of comprehensive
Definition
of broad scope or content
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
Synonyms
broad,
full,
complete,
wide,
catholic,
sweeping,
extensive,
blanket,
umbrella,
thorough,
inclusive,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
overarching,
encyclopedic
in the sense of exaggerated
Be sceptical of exaggerated claims for what these products can do.
Synonyms
overstated,
extreme,
excessive,
over the top (informal),
inflated,
extravagant,
overdone,
tall (informal),
amplified,
hyped,
pretentious,
exalted (informal),
overestimated,
overblown,
fulsome,
hyperbolic,
highly coloured,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of expansive
Definition
wide or extensive
an expansive grassy play area
Synonyms
wide,
broad,
extensive,
spacious,
sweeping
in the sense of global
Definition
of or applying to the whole of something
a global vision of contemporary society
Synonyms
comprehensive,
general,
total,
thorough,
unlimited,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-encompassing,
encyclopedic,
unbounded
in the sense of out-and-out
Definition
absolute
You're an out-and-out liar.
Synonyms
absolute,
complete,
total,
perfect,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
arrant,
deep-dyed
in the sense of panoramic
the panoramic sweep of his work
Synonyms
comprehensive,
general,
extensive,
sweeping,
inclusive,
far-reaching,
all-embracing
in the sense of radical
Definition
searching or thorough
the radical differences between them
Synonyms
fundamental,
natural,
basic,
essential,
native,
constitutional,
organic,
profound,
innate,
deep-seated,
thoroughgoing,
hard-wired
in the sense of spacious
Definition
having or providing a lot of space
The house has a spacious kitchen and dining area.
Synonyms
roomy,
large,
huge,
broad,
vast,
extensive,
ample,
expansive,
capacious,
uncrowded,
commodious,
comfortable,
sizable or sizeable
in the sense of total
Definition
complete
The car was in a total mess.I mean I'm not a total idiot.
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
utter,
whole,
perfect,
entire,
sheer,
outright,
all-out,
thorough,
unconditional,
downright (derogatory),
undisputed,
consummate,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
undivided,
overarching,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed (derogatory)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of unconditional
Definition
without conditions or limitations
The leader of the revolt made an unconditional surrender.
Synonyms
absolute,
full,
complete,
total,
positive (informal),
entire,
utter,
explicit,
outright,
unlimited,
downright,
unqualified,
unrestricted,
out-and-out,
plenary,
categorical,
unreserved
in the sense of vast
Definition
unusually large in size, degree, or number
farmers who own vast stretches of land
Synonyms
huge,
massive,
enormous,
great,
wide,
sweeping,
extensive,
tremendous,
immense,
mega (slang),
unlimited,
gigantic,
astronomical,
monumental (informal),
monstrous,
mammoth,
colossal,
never-ending,
prodigious,
limitless,
boundless,
voluminous,
immeasurable,
unbounded,
elephantine,
ginormous (informal),
vasty (archaic),
measureless,
illimitable,
humongous or humungous (informal)
in the sense of wholesale
Definition
extensive or indiscriminate
the wholesale destruction of life on this planet
Synonyms
extensive,
total,
mass,
sweeping,
broad,
comprehensive,
wide-ranging,
blanket,
outright,
far-reaching,
indiscriminate,
all-inclusive
in the sense of wide
Definition
covering or including many different things
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels and holiday homes.