sweep (away)

verb

Definition of sweep (away)next
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of some priceless works of literature were swept away when the library at Alexandria burned

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweep (away)
  1. eradicate
  2. erase
  3. abolish
  4. destroy
  5. wipe out
Verb
  • On this day in 1979: Scientists declared that smallpox had been eradicated about a dozen years after the World Health Organization intensified its vaccination push and prior requirements in many countries in the Americas and Europe.
    Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • In the 1950s, an ambitious international campaign was launched to eradicate the insect in the north and center of the continent.
    Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • One dud doesn’t erase the good performances Young has put on tape over the past month.
    Joseph Person, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
  • In August, the Taliban published vice laws that ban women’s voices and bare faces in public in an effort to completely erase Afghan women and girls from public life.
    Brian Cheng, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of erase
Verb
  • Kash Patel vows to abolish the ‘deep state’; Trump’s FBI pick thrills MAGA base Robby Soave and Steven Olikara weigh in on Donald Trump’s nominee to spearhead the FBI, Kash Patel.
    The Hill, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Rankin believed that without a widespread moral awakening, the prospect was slim that slavery could be abolished.
    TIME, TIME, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • He is then seen waving the baton, destroying property and throwing items at police, according to his criminal complaint.
    Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Al Shahabi also asked on Facebook where the recordings of surveillance cameras at regime security branches had gone, why some documents had been destroyed and why human rights groups had not done more to protect records.
    Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • By the end of 1977, the ranks of the guerrilla groups had been largely wiped out, but the dictatorship’s terror continued.
    Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Hurricane Helene wiped out many buildings in this small village of around 150 people situated along the Broad River.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of wipe out
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near sweep (away)

sweep

sweep (away)

sweeping

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Cite this Entry

“Sweep (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweep%20%28away%29. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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