Sweep vs. Sway

Sweep vs. Sway — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Sweep and Sway

Sweepverb

(transitive) To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.

to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney

Swaynoun

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.

Sweepverb

(intransitive) To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.

The wind sweeps across the plain.The offended countess swept out of the ballroom.

Swaynoun

A rocking or swinging motion.

The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.

Sweepverb

(transitive) To search (a place) methodically.

Swaynoun

Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side

I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
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Sweepverb

To travel quickly.

Swaynoun

Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

Sweepverb

(cricket) To play a sweep shot.

Swaynoun

Rule; dominion; control; power.

Sweepverb

(curling) To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.

Swaynoun

A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.

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Sweepverb

To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom.

Swaynoun

The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.

Sweepverb

To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.

Swayverb

To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

sway to the music;The trees swayed in the breeze.

Sweepverb

To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.

Swayverb

To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.

to sway the sceptre

Sweepverb

(transitive) To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.

She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor.The wind sweeps the snow from the hills.The flooded river swept away the wooden dam.

Swayverb

To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.

Do you think you can sway their decision?

Sweepverb

To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.

Their long descending train, / With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.

Swayverb

To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.

reeds swayed by the wind;judgment swayed by passion

Sweepverb

To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.

Swayverb

(nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

to sway up the yards

Sweepverb

To strike with a long stroke.

Swayverb

To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

Sweepverb

(nautical) To draw or drag something over.

to sweep the bottom of a river with a net

Swayverb

To have weight or influence.

Sweepverb

To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.

to sweep the heavens with a telescope

Swayverb

To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Sweepnoun

A single action of sweeping.

Give the front steps a quick sweep to get rid of those fallen leaves.

Swaynoun

controlling influence

Sweepnoun

The person who steers a dragon boat.

Swaynoun

pitching dangerously to one side

Sweepnoun

A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.

Swayverb

move back and forth or sideways;

the ship was rockingthe tall building swayedShe rocked back and forth on her feet

Sweepnoun

A chimney sweep.

Swayverb

move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;

He swung back

Sweepnoun

A methodical search, typically for bugs (electronic listening devices).

Swayverb

win approval or support for;

Carry all before oneHis speech did not sway the voters

Sweepnoun

(cricket) A batsman's shot, played from a kneeling position with a swinging horizontal bat.

Bradman attempted a sweep, but in fact top edged the ball to the wicket keeper

Swayverb

cause to move back and forth;

rock the cradlerock the babythe wind swayed the trees gently

Sweepnoun

A lottery, usually on the results of a sporting event, where players win if their randomly chosen team wins.

Jim will win fifty dollars in the office sweep if Japan wins the World Cup.

Sweepnoun

A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.

Sweepnoun

(martial arts) A throw or takedown that primarily uses the legs to attack an opponent's legs.

Sweepnoun

Violent and general destruction.

the sweep of an epidemic disease

Sweepnoun

(metalworking) A movable templet for making moulds, in loam moulding.

Sweepnoun

(card games) In the game casino, the act of capturing all face-up cards from the table.

Sweepnoun

The compass of any turning body or of any motion.

the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye

Sweepnoun

Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, etc. away from a rectilinear line.

Sweepnoun

A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.

Sweepnoun

The almond furnace.

Sweepnoun

A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.

Sweepnoun

Any of the blades of a windmill.

Sweepnoun

(in the plural) The sweepings of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.

Sweepnoun

Any of several pl=s in the kyphosid subfamily Scorpidinae.

Sweepnoun

An expanse or a swath, a strip of land.

Sweepnoun

a wide scope;

the sweep of the plains

Sweepnoun

someone who cleans soot from chimneys

Sweepnoun

winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge

Sweepnoun

a long oar used in an open boat

Sweepnoun

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line

Sweepnoun

a movement in an arc;

a sweep of his arm

Sweepverb

sweep across or over;

Her long skirt brushed the floorA gasp swept cross the audience

Sweepverb

move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;

The diva swept into the roomShreds of paper sailed through the airThe searchlights swept across the sky

Sweepverb

sweep with a broom or as if with a broom;

Sweep the crumbs off the tableSweep under the bed

Sweepverb

force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action;

They were swept up by the eventsdon't drag me into this business

Sweepverb

to cover or extend over an area or time period;

Rivers traverse the valley floorThe parking lot spans 3 acresThe novel spans three centuries

Sweepverb

clean by sweeping;

Please sweep the floor

Sweepverb

win an overwhelming victory in or on;

Her new show dog swept all championships

Sweepverb

cover the entire range of

Sweepverb

make a big sweeping gesture or movement