sweeping

sweeping — adjective

1. relating to or having a large effect on many people, places, or things across a

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to or having a large effect on many people, places, or things across a wide range

Example

The new law had sweeping effects on the country's education system.

collocation: sweeping effects on [noun]

Karim's report proposed sweeping changes to the company's hiring practices.

Common collocations
  • sweeping changes
  • sweeping reforms
  • sweeping effects
  • sweeping consequences
  • sweeping improvements
  • sweeping new rules
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • limited

    restricted in scope or effect

  • narrow

    affecting only a small range of things

Grammar Patterns

sweeping + noun (effect/change/reform/improvement)

Usage Note

Frequently used in news and political writing. The noun following 'sweeping' is usually an abstract noun describing a broad category of change (reform, overhaul, cut, ban).

Common Mistakes

The new policy was sweeping across the whole company.
The new policy had sweeping effects across the whole company.
'sweeping' in this sense is an adjective modifying a noun; it is not a verb meaning 'to spread across.'

2. describing a statement, opinion, or criticism that is unreasonably broad and doe

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a statement, opinion, or criticism that is unreasonably broad and does not consider specific details or individual differences

Example

Mateo dismissed his criticism as a sweeping statement that ignored the facts.

collocation: sweeping statement

The article made sweeping claims about the entire generation without evidence.

collocation: sweeping claims

Common collocations
  • sweeping statement
  • sweeping generalization
  • sweeping claim
  • sweeping accusation
  • sweeping remark
Synonyms
  • blanket

    more informal, as in 'blanket statement'

  • wholesale

    implies indiscriminate rejection or acceptance

  • unqualified

    emphasises lack of conditions or exceptions

Antonyms
  • specific

    precise and detailed rather than broad

  • nuanced

    carefully considering distinctions and exceptions

Grammar Patterns

sweeping + noun (statement/generalization/claim/accusation/remark)

Usage Note

Almost always negative in tone. The speaker or writer using this sense is criticising someone else's statement for being unfairly broad. Common in academic and argumentative contexts.

Common Mistakes

That is a sweeping.
That is a sweeping statement.
In this sense 'sweeping' must be followed by a noun such as 'statement', 'generalization', or 'claim.'
She made a sweeping about all politicians.
She made a sweeping statement about all politicians.
'sweeping' cannot stand alone as a noun in this meaning.

3. covering or extending across a very wide physical area; taking in a broad range

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

covering or extending across a very wide physical area; taking in a broad range of space in a single movement or look

Example

From the hilltop, they had a sweeping view of the valley below.

collocation: sweeping view

The camera captured a sweeping panorama of the desert at sunset.

Common collocations
  • sweeping view
  • sweeping panorama
  • sweeping gesture
  • sweeping glance
  • sweeping look
Synonyms
  • panoramic

    specifically of views; suggests a 360-degree or very wide vista

  • wide

    simpler and more general word for broad coverage

  • broad

    emphasises horizontal extent

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sweeping + noun (view/panorama/gesture/look/glance)

Usage Note

Often used with nouns related to sight (view, panorama, look, glance) or arm movement (gesture). The focus is on the physical breadth of space being covered rather than abstract scale.

Common Mistakes

She made a sweeping view of all the problems.
From the balcony, she had a sweeping view of the gardens.
'sweeping view' refers to a physical vista, not a mental overview of issues.

4. forming a long, smooth curved line or shape rather than being straight or having

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

forming a long, smooth curved line or shape rather than being straight or having sharp angles

Example

A sweeping staircase led guests from the lobby up to the ballroom.

collocation: sweeping staircase

The river took a sweeping curve around the old castle walls.

collocation: sweeping curve

Common collocations
  • sweeping staircase
  • sweeping curve
  • sweeping arch
  • sweeping turn
  • sweeping line
Synonyms
  • curved

    more general; does not imply the same graceful length

  • graceful

    adds an aesthetic judgement of elegance

  • flowing

    emphasises smooth, uninterrupted motion

Antonyms
  • straight

    having no curves or bends

  • angular

    having sharp corners rather than smooth curves

Grammar Patterns

sweeping + noun (staircase/curve/arch/turn/line)

Common Mistakes

The road has a sweeping straight section.
The road has a sweeping curve.
A 'sweeping' shape is curved, not straight.

5. used to describe a win, victory, or success that is complete, decisive, and achi

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a win, victory, or success that is complete, decisive, and achieved by a very large margin or with widespread support

Example

The party won a sweeping victory in the national elections last November.

collocation: sweeping victory

Leo's team achieved a sweeping 5-0 win in the championship final.

Common collocations
  • sweeping victory
  • sweeping win
  • sweeping majority
  • sweeping approval
  • sweeping praise
Synonyms
  • decisive

    emphasises that the outcome leaves no doubt

  • resounding

    suggests emphatic and unmistakable victory

  • overwhelming

    stresses the size of the winning margin

Antonyms
  • narrow

    won by a very small margin, e.g. 'narrow victory'

  • close

    nearly tied or uncertain until the end

Grammar Patterns

sweeping + noun (victory/win/majority/approval/praise)

Usage Note

Only used before nouns describing the outcome of a contest, election, or vote. Not used for personal achievements ('sweeping exam results') or physical activities ('sweeping goal').

Common Mistakes

She achieved a sweeping in the competition.
She achieved a sweeping victory in the competition.
The noun (victory, win, majority) must be included after 'sweeping'.

sweeping — noun

Word family

  • sweep
    verbA2
  • sweep
    nounB1
  • sweeper
    nounB1
  • sweepings
    nounC1
  • unswept
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe something that covers or affects a large area or number of things, but they differ in emphasis and context. 'Sweeping' suggests bold, dramatic scale and often appears with nouns of institutional change (reform, overhaul, cut). 'Wide-ranging' is more neutral and descriptive, suitable for topics, discussions, or interests. 'Comprehensive' stresses thoroughness and completeness — a comprehensive plan covers every detail. 'Extensive' focuses on large physical or numerical size (extensive damage, extensive collection). 'Far-reaching' highlights lasting or distant consequences rather than immediate breadth. For example, a government can announce sweeping new regulations (dramatic and broad), while a report can provide a comprehensive analysis (detailed covering all aspects), and an earthquake can cause extensive damage (large-scale physical).

sweepingwide-rangingcomprehensiveextensivefar-reaching

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • overly
  • too
  • rather
  • somewhat

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'sweeping' developed from the Old English verb 'swāpan', meaning 'to sweep, strike, or drive forward'. In Middle English it became 'swepen' and eventually 'sweep'. The adjective form emerged in the 16th century, first describing the literal arc of a broom in motion. By the 17th century, writers began using it metaphorically to describe things that 'cover a lot of ground' — first in the sense of physical space (a sweeping view), then abstract scope (sweeping changes). The use for decisive victory (sweeping win) appeared in political writing during the 19th century. The noun sense (the act of cleaning with a broom) dates back to the same period as the verb, but is less commonly used as a standalone noun.