Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

sweep away

VERB
discard
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon cancel dispense with dispose of ditch dump eliminate give up jettison reject remove renounce repeal scrap shed
STRONG
abdicate abjure adios banish can cashier chuck deep-six desert dispatch dispossess divorce drop eject expel forsake junk oust protest relinquish repudiate
WEAK
cast aside do away with free of have done with part with put by shake off throw away throw out throw overboard toss aside write off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accept allow approve choose hold keep ratify retain sanction save uphold
STRONG
admit take in welcome
WEAK
embrace
VERB
dismiss
Synonyms
STRONGEST
decline disband dissolve expel let go reject release
STRONG
abolish banish boot bundle chase chuck clear deport detach discard dispatch disperse divorce eject outlaw relegate relinquish repel repudiate rid shed supersede
WEAK
brush off cast off cast out dispense with dispose of do without drive out force out have done with kick out let out lock out push aside push back send off send packing show out slough off turn out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accept allow
STRONG
hold keep legalize permit promote retain
WEAK
appoint employ engage hire maintain preserve secure welcome
VERB
ravage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
consume damage demolish devastate disrupt gut impair overrun overwhelm pillage plunder raze ruin shatter wreck
STRONG
annihilate capture cream crush desecrate desolate despoil dismantle disorganize exterminate extinguish forage foray harry loot overthrow pirate prey prostrate raid rape rob sack seize sink smash spoil strip total trample trash waste wrest
WEAK
break up lay waste leave in ruins pull down spoliate stamp out wreak havoc
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist build construct create fix help improve mend repair
STRONG
bear free give grow guard let go liberate lose offer praise preserve protect release save surrender yield
VERB
scoop
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clear away dig dig out gouge lift pick up remove scrape
STRONG
bail dip empty excavate gather grub hollow lade ladle spade
WEAK
sweep up take up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
drop lower
STRONG
fill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She plans to sweep away the cobwebs and inject warmth and life into a farm mired in portentous dialogue and unmentionable secrets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Yet even this effort at public justification may not suffice to sweep away a prior regulatory regime.

From Slate • May 12, 2025

But it will take far more than this to sweep away the dark clouds currently hanging over Old Trafford.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

“Hopefully, all of the algae will have died off and the winds will sweep away any remaining smell.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2024

I wished we could sweep away the years and see her.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier