clean sweep
Americannoun
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an overwhelming or decisive victory, as by a political candidate who wins in all or almost all election districts.
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the winning of all the prizes, rounds, contests, etc., in a competition or of all the games in a series.
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a thorough or sweeping change, especially one effected by the large-scale removal or elimination of unwanted persons or things.
The new president made a clean sweep when he joined the company, replacing all the department heads.
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.
All of the opening 14 matches in the tournament were won by the seeded player, with Vafaei's victory ensuring there cannot be a clean sweep.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Just as in 2022, when England were swatted aside 25-13 in the final game of a clean sweep, this was supposed to be the match in which they clinched a Grand Slam.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
It all looked so different from the newer league table format, which led to a clean sweep of Premier League teams, giving rise to suggestions they could dominate the latter stages.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
China's defending champion Gu, who came to Italy seeking a clean sweep of three golds in her events, has so far failed to top the podium, winning silver medals in slopestyle and big air.
From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026
It will be one clean sweep, left to right.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
