sweeping
/ˈswiːpɪŋ
/adjective
1Extending or performed in a long, continuous curve: sweeping, desolate moorlands a smooth sweeping motion...
- This was previously Ben Stevenson's place, she says, her buff arms extending in a sweeping motion to encompass the townhouse living room.
- A rich brew of extended lines, sweeping curves, off-kilter balances, de Schynkel's vocabulary is expressive without being literal.
- High above Kresna, we were following a trail through the foothills of Pirin, and were being treated to a sweeping panorama that seemingly extended all the way to Greece.
Synonyms
broad, extensive, expansive, vast, spacious, roomy, boundless, panoramic
2Wide in range or effect: we cannot recommend any sweeping alterations...
- The government plans to give sweeping powers to a wide range of organisations to spy on us.
- Berlusconi then reverted to his normal strategy by pleading for several more years to put into effect the sweeping reforms he had promised on his election.
- There is a well-known method for examining deaths involving a range of sweeping issues - the provincial inquest system.
Synonyms
extensive, wide-ranging, global, broad, wide, comprehensive, all-inclusive, all-embracing, far-reaching, across the board, worldwide, catholic, exhaustive, pervasive;
thorough, in-depth, radical
informal wall-to-wall
overwhelming, decisive, thorough, complete, total, absolute, out-and-out, thoroughgoing, unconditional, unlimited, unrestricted, unqualified, plenary
2.1(Of a statement) taking no account of particular cases or exceptions; too general: a sweeping assertion...
- The only possible exception to this sweeping statement would be Karl Marx - and Marx himself was heavily influenced by Hegel.
- Making a generalised and sweeping statement on every politician and the whole system was an irresponsible act.
- There was a general sweeping statement, because, of course, it does not have the World Health Organization findings.
Synonyms
wholesale, blanket, over-general, general, inclusive, all-inclusive, unqualified, indiscriminate, universal, oversimplified, imprecise
noun (sweepings)
Dirt or refuse collected by sweeping: the sweepings from the house...
- Grading land with yard rubbish, sweepings, and other refuse also planted weeds and seeds on vacant land.
- And he walked right through my sweepings. ‘Look at this stuff,’ he said, kicking it away.’
- Sadly, if it continues, that is what is threatening to become of the great Liberal Party tradition: a cold-hearted butcher to the withering slab of the Australian body, and the public get sausages for policy from the sweepings off the floor.
Derivatives
sweepingly
- From there it proceeded rather tamely and conventionally, with piano first and then both instruments, from which develops a dialog and soon gentle, even sweepingly melodic sections.
- I'll respect Sean to kindly stop using my name as associated with any sweepingly inaccurate positions as he sees fit.
- The perception of the West as a capitalist and deeply materialistic place should not be sweepingly applied.