Defeat to Brazil in their final Preliminary Round match had already put Sweden on the back foot before Group IV got underway, but they were still expected to provide a stern test for the star-studded Norwegians.
Coach Tomas Axner made the surprise call to start Filippa Idehn in goal, but midway through the first half he recalled Johanna Bundsen, as following an 8-2 run, Norway opened up a 12-6 lead, driven on by the unstoppable Henny Reistad.
But the goalkeeper switch did nothing to stop the Norwegian momentum, as Ingvild Bakkerud and Veronica Kristiansen played their part in adding another 12 before half-time, at which they led by a staggering 24-11.
With the match all but over by the start of the second half, Norway used it as an opportunity to rotate their squad and saw 12 players get on the scoresheet, while Sweden scored the final three goals of the match to draw the second period 15-15 and salvage a modicum of pride.
Clara Lerby scored two of those final three to finish level with Linn Blohm as Blagult's top scorer with five each, but six apiece for Bakkerud and Reistad meant they led the scoring charts in what ended as a 39-26 rout for Norway.
Norway and Brazil now have six points each in the group, with Sweden stuck on two. Sweden now must beat already-eliminated South Korea on Friday, but should Brazil beat Angola and Norway beat Czech Republic, Axner's side will be eliminated from the competition.
Review all today's Women's Handball World Championship results on Flashscore.