to sweep over

Examples

• All

• A wave of loneliness swept over her as she realized where she was.

  Fiction book (1995)

• As she listened to the music, a wave of joy swept over her, making her smile from ear to ear.

• I actually saw them relax, like a sense of relief swept over them.

  Fiction book (1996)

• A sense of euphoria such as I had never before felt swept over me.

  Fiction book (2001)

• The God's light quickly flickered out and despair swept over the crowd.

• Then his guts suddenly lurched, and a wave of nausea swept over him.

  Fiction book (2001)

• My pulse was racing and my fingers trembled as wave after wave of indignation swept over me.

  Best of Enemies (2015)

• The appalling realization swept over her as if for the first time she would never see Elise again.

  Fiction book (1997)

• A wave of light-headed giddiness swept over him, and his knees felt loose and rubbery.

  Fiction book (1990)

• When he heard the good news, a sudden wave of relief swept over him, easing the weight on his shoulders.

Synonyms

O

to overwhelm

vsto sweep over

164 4.4

Make someone feel very strong emotions so they cannot think clearly

is about a sudden powerful affect rather than only long term inability to cope

O

to overcome

vsto sweep over

86 4.1

Be so affected by a strong feeling that you cannot control yourself

is similar but highlights sudden powerful onset rather than general affect

S

to seize

vsto sweep over

77 4.8

Feel a sudden strong emotion or pain

describes the sudden powerful surge itself rather than a gripping hold

E

to engulf

vsto sweep over

40 5.1

To cover something completely and suddenly, often by fire or water

focuses on affecting a person emotionally rather than physical covering

O

to overtake

vsto sweep over

29 5.1

To suddenly have a strong feeling that you cannot control

focuses on the sudden powerful feeling rather than the visible reaction

S

to sweep off

vsto sweep over

• Informal

21 5.6

To make someone feel a sudden strong feeling, often romantic

is used for sudden powerful feeling beyond romantic or charming cases

O

to overpower

vsto sweep over

18 5.7

To feel unable to think and act because of a very strong feeling such as fear or a strong smell

is used for sudden powerful feeling rather than strong ongoing influence

S

to sweep away

vsto sweep over

7 4.6

To feel very strong emotions that you cannot control

focuses more on sudden powerful arrival rather than continuous carrying away

S

to spill over

vsto sweep over

3 5.3

To feel an emotion so strongly that you show it openly

is about sudden powerful affect rather than public visible overflow

H

to hit like a tidal wave

vsto sweep over

7.3

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

is the sudden powerful feeling described without the wave image

W

to whelm

vsto sweep over

9.9

To feel a very strong emotion that takes control of you

is the sudden powerful emotional effect rather than general overpowering

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

R

to resist

61 3.0

Hold up against stains, heat or storms

How Overwhelming

to overwhelm

164 4.4

to sweep over

8 4.6

to move

668 3.4

to touch

680 2.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology