Mob vs. Sweep — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 2, 2024
Mobs involve chaotic gatherings, often with a common purpose, while sweeps are thorough searches or actions to clear an area.
Difference Between Mob and Sweep
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Mobs refer to large groups of people, typically gathered with a common intent that can range from protest to violence. These gatherings are often characterized by their spontaneous formation and lack of structured organization, driven by collective emotions or reactions to events. On the other hand, sweeps are systematic actions undertaken to search through or clear an area, commonly used in the context of cleaning, security operations, or competitions.
The term "mob" inherently carries a connotation of disorder and potential for unrest, reflecting the unpredictable nature of large, agitated groups. Mobs can form in response to social, political, or economic grievances, sometimes leading to significant impact on public order and safety. Sweeps, whereas, imply a level of organization and purpose, focusing on thoroughness and coverage, such as in police sweeps for contraband or efforts to remove debris or hazards from an area.
Mobs are typically human-centric, involving group dynamics, psychology, and social factors. The behavior of a mob is influenced by the collective mood, purpose, and the influence of key individuals within the group. In contrast, sweeps can be conducted by individuals or teams, with or without mechanical assistance, and are defined by their goal-oriented nature, whether it's cleaning streets, conducting security checks, or removing participants in a competition from contention.
The outcomes of mob actions are often unpredictable and can range from peaceful demonstrations to violent confrontations, with significant implications for social order and public policy. Sweeps, on the other hand, aim for specific, tangible results, such as cleaner environments, the apprehension of suspects, or the identification of issues within a given area, with a clear endpoint or goal in mind.
While mobs and sweeps represent vastly different concepts, both can significantly impact communities and spaces. Mobs reflect the spontaneous collective actions of people driven by a shared purpose or emotion, often highlighting underlying social or political issues. Sweeps, by their nature, are systematic efforts to bring about order, safety, or cleanliness, demonstrating the application of organization and planning toward achieving a defined objective.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A large, often disorderly group of people with a common intent.
A systematic search or action to clear an area.
Connotation
Disorder and potential unrest.
Organization and thoroughness.
Context
Human-centric, driven by social or political motives.
Goal-oriented, can involve cleaning, security, or competitive contexts.
Outcome
Unpredictable, ranging from peaceful to violent.
Aimed at achieving specific, tangible results.
Nature
Spontaneous and emotionally driven.
Systematic and purposeful.
Compare with Definitions
Mob
A large gathering of people, often disorderly.
The mob gathered quickly, blocking the streets.
Sweep
A thorough search or clearing action.
The police conducted a sweep of the neighborhood.
Mob
Driven by a common purpose or emotion.
A sense of injustice fueled the mob's actions.
Sweep
Produces tangible results.
The sweep resulted in several arrests and the recovery of stolen items.
Mob
Lacks structured organization.
Despite its size, the mob had no clear leader.
Sweep
Can involve cleaning or security measures.
The morning sweep left the streets clean and tidy.
Mob
Can lead to significant social impact.
The mob's protest drew national attention.
Sweep
Requires organization and planning.
Teams were assigned different areas for the sweep.
Mob
Reflects collective human behavior.
The psychology of the mob fascinated researchers.
Sweep
Aimed at achieving a clear goal.
The sweep was intended to find any hidden contraband.
Mob
A large and often disorderly crowd. ]
Sweep
To clean or clear, as of dirt, with a broom or brush
Sweep a chimney.
Mob
A large or disorderly group of people; especially one bent on riotous or destructive action.
Sweep
To clear away with a broom or brush
Swept snow from the steps.
Mob
(archaic) The lower classes of a community; the rabble.
Sweep
To clear (a path or space) with a broom or brush.
Mob
(collective noun) A group of animals such as horses or cattle.
Sweep
To search thoroughly
The counselors swept the dormitory during the fire drill.
Mob
(collective noun) A group of kangaroos.
Sweep
To search for and remove (electronic eavesdropping devices) from a place
Swept the room for bugs.
Mob
(collective noun) A flock of emus.
Sweep
To touch or brush lightly, as with a trailing garment
Willow branches sweeping the ground.
Mob
A mafia: a group that engages in organized crime.
Sweep
To pass over or through a surface or medium with a continuous movement
He swept the sponge over the tile. The conductor swept her baton through the air.
Mob
(video games) A non-player character, especially one that exists to be fought or killed to further the progression of the story or game.
Sweep
To clear, drive, or convey with relentless force
The flood waters swept away everything in their path.
Mob
(Australian Aboriginal) A group of Aboriginal people associated with an extended family group, clan group or wider community group, from a particular place or country.
Sweep
To wipe out at a single stroke. Often used with away
The incident in effect swept away all her dreams.
Mob
(obsolete) A promiscuous woman; a harlot or wench; a prostitute.
Sweep
To remove or carry off with a swift brushing motion
Swept the cards off the table.
Swept the child into his arms.
Mob
A mob cap.
Sweep
To move across or through swiftly or broadly
News of the lunar landing swept the country.
Mob
Abbr of mobile phone
Sweep
To pass quickly across, as when searching
His gaze swept the horizon.
Mob
(transitive) To crowd around (someone), sometimes with hostility.
The fans mobbed a well-dressed couple who resembled their idols.
Sweep
To drag the bottom of (a body of water).
Mob
(transitive) To crowd into or around a place.
The shoppers mobbed the store on the first day of the sale.
Sweep
To win all games in (a series) or all stages of (a contest)
Swept the World Series.
Mob
(transitive) To wrap up in, or cover with, a cowl.
Sweep
To win overwhelmingly in
The opposition party swept the election.
Mob
A mobcap.
Sweep
To clean or clear a surface with a broom or brush.
Mob
The lower classes of a community; the populace, or the lowest part of it.
A cluster of mob were making themselves merry with their betters.
Sweep
To search an area for something.
Mob
A throng; a rabble; esp., an unlawful or riotous assembly; a disorderly crowd.
The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease.
Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.
Confused by brainless mobs.
Sweep
To search for and remove electronic eavesdropping devices.
Mob
To wrap up in, or cover with, a cowl.
Sweep
To move swiftly or broadly
The wind swept over the plain.
Mob
To crowd about, as a mob, and attack or annoy; as, to mob a house or a person.
Sweep
To move swiftly in a lofty manner, as if in a trailing robe
She swept by in silence.
Mob
A disorderly crowd of people
Sweep
To trail, as a long garment.
Mob
A loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
Sweep
To extend gracefully, especially in a long curve
The hills sweep down to the sea.
Mob
An association of criminals;
Police tried to break up the gang
A pack of thieves
Sweep
To extend in a wide range
Searchlights swept across the sky.
Mob
Press tightly together or cram;
The crowd packed the auditorium
Sweep
A clearing out or removal with a broom or brush.
Sweep
A thorough search of an area
A police sweep for drug dealers.
Sweep
A search for and removal of electronic eavesdropping devices, as in a room.
Sweep
A wide curving motion
A sweep of the arm.
Sweep
A curve or contour that resembles the path of sweeping motion
The sweep of her hair.
Sweep
An extent or stretch
A sweep of green lawn.
Sweep
Range or scope
The broad sweep of history.
Sweep
(Football) An end run in which one or more linemen leave the line of scrimmage and block in advance of the ball carrier.
Sweep
One who sweeps, especially a chimney sweep.
Sweep
Sweeps Sweepings.
Sweep
The winning of all stages of a game or contest.
Sweep
An overwhelming victory or success.
Sweep
A long oar used to propel a boat.
Sweep
A long pole attached to a pivot and used to raise or lower a bucket in a well.
Sweep
Sweeps (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Informal Sweepstakes.
Sweep
Sweeps The period each fall, winter, and spring when television ratings are accrued and studied and advertising rates are reset.
Sweep
The national survey of local stations that is conducted to determine these ratings.
Sweep
The steady motion of an electron beam across a cathode-ray tube.
Sweep
(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
Sweep
(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.
Sweep
(transitive) To search (a place) methodically.
Sweep
To travel quickly.
Sweep
(cricket) To play a sweep shot.
Sweep
(curling) To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.
Sweep
To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom.
Sweep
To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
Sweep
To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
Sweep
(military) To clear (a body of water or part thereof) of mines.
The channel was swept twice before the battlefleet proceeded through it.
Sweep
(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.
Sweep
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Sweep
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
Sweep
To strike with a long stroke.
Sweep
(rowing) To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side.
Sweep
(nautical) To draw or drag something over.
To sweep the bottom of a river with a net
Sweep
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.
To sweep the heavens with a telescope
Sweep
To vacuum a carpet or rug.
Sweep
A single action of sweeping.
Give the front steps a quick sweep to get rid of those fallen leaves.
Sweep
The person who steers a dragon boat.
Sweep
A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.
Sweep
A chimney sweep.
Sweep
A methodical search, typically for bugs electronic listening devices.
Sweep
(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
Sweep
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.
Sweep
A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.
Sweep
(aviation) The degree to which an aircraft's wings are angled backwards (or, occasionally, forwards) from their attachments to the fuselage.
The MiG-17's inner wing has 45 degrees of sweep.
Sweep
(martial arts) A throw or takedown that primarily uses the legs to attack an opponent's legs.
Sweep
Violent and general destruction.
The sweep of an epidemic disease
Sweep
(metalworking) A movable template for making moulds, in loam moulding.
Sweep
(card games) In the game casino, the act of capturing all face-up cards from the table.
Sweep
The compass of any turning body or of any motion.
The sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye
Sweep
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, etc. away from a rectilinear line.
Sweep
A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.
Sweep
(rowing) A rowing style in which each rower rows with oar on either the port or starboard side.
I am primarily a sweep rower.
Sweep
The almond furnace.
Sweep
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.
Sweep
Any of the blades of a windmill.
Sweep
(in the plural) The sweepings of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Sweep
Any of several sea chubs in the family Kyphosidae (subfamily Scorpidinae).
Sweep
An expanse or a swath, a strip of land.
Sweep
To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as, to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively.
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
Sweep
To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing; as, to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes.
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.
I have already swept the stakes.
Sweep
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Their long descending train,With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
Sweep
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
And like a peacock sweep along his tail.
Sweep
To strike with a long stroke.
Wake into voice each silent string,And sweep the sounding lyre.
Sweep
To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.
Sweep
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
Sweep
To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
Sweep
To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room.
Sweep
To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
Sweep
The act of sweeping.
Sweep
The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
Sweep
The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
Sweep
The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
Sweep
Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
Sweep
Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
Sweep
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
The road which makes a small sweep.
Sweep
One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
Sweep
A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.
Sweep
The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle.
Sweep
The almond furnace.
Sweep
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.
Sweep
In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam.
Sweep
The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Sweep
A wide scope;
The sweep of the plains
Sweep
Someone who cleans soot from chimneys
Sweep
Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
Sweep
A long oar used in an open boat
Sweep
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line
Sweep
A movement in an arc;
A sweep of his arm
Sweep
Sweep across or over;
Her long skirt brushed the floor
A gasp swept cross the audience
Sweep
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky
Sweep
Sweep with a broom or as if with a broom;
Sweep the crumbs off the table
Sweep under the bed
Sweep
Force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action;
They were swept up by the events
Don't drag me into this business
Sweep
To cover or extend over an area or time period;
Rivers traverse the valley floor
The parking lot spans 3 acres
The novel spans three centuries
Sweep
Clean by sweeping;
Please sweep the floor
Sweep
Win an overwhelming victory in or on;
Her new show dog swept all championships
Sweep
Cover the entire range of
Sweep
Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
Common Curiosities
What causes a mob to form?
Mobs often form in response to collective emotions or social, political, and economic grievances.
Can a mob be peaceful?
Yes, while often associated with disorder, mobs can engage in peaceful demonstrations or collective actions.
How do mobs impact society?
Mobs can significantly impact society, either by highlighting issues and demanding change or causing disorder and unrest.
In what contexts are sweeps used?
Sweeps are used in various contexts, including cleaning operations, security checks, and in competitions to eliminate contenders.
Can individuals conduct sweeps?
Yes, individuals can conduct sweeps, especially in contexts like cleaning or searching within a limited area.
How can the outcomes of a mob action be unpredictable?
Outcomes are unpredictable due to the spontaneous, emotionally driven nature of mobs and the potential for escalation.
How do sweeps benefit communities?
Sweeps can benefit communities by enhancing safety, cleanliness, and order, contributing to overall well-being.
What distinguishes a mob from a protest?
The key difference is organization and intent; protests are typically more organized and focused on specific issues.
What is the purpose of a sweep?
The purpose of a sweep is to thoroughly search, clear, or clean an area, aiming for a specific outcome.
What makes a sweep effective?
Effectiveness in a sweep comes from thorough planning, organization, and execution towards achieving the intended goal.
What skills are necessary for conducting an effective sweep?
Skills include planning, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to systematically cover an area.
Can the concept of a sweep apply to digital environments?
Yes, the concept can apply to digital environments, such as in cybersecurity measures to detect and remove threats.
How do authorities typically respond to mobs?
Responses can vary from negotiation and monitoring to the use of force to restore order, depending on the mob's behavior.
What psychological factors contribute to mob behavior?
Factors include anonymity, contagion of emotion, and the influence of group dynamics on individual decision-making.
Are all large gatherings considered mobs?
No, not all large gatherings are mobs; the term specifically refers to groups formed with a common, often disorderly, intent.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
