1
as in sway
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
a mayor who doesn't hesitate to use her influence to get business leaders behind civic improvements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effect
the power to bring about a result on another
the basic premise of astrology is that the position of the stars has an influence on human affairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response
the news reports of the devastating flood influenced a great many people to make contributions for food and supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of influence
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
The godparent tradition is absent in Bengali culture; all the same, like Linnet, I was raised not only by my mother and father but by other adults, members of their social circle, who exerted their influences on me.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
According to Amex, 43 percent of Gen Z and Millennials say tennis influences their personal style; 41 percent already accessorize with charms, and 61 percent are styling trainers with smart looks this summer.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Noun
The law aims to curb corruption and undue influence in federal campaigns.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
The godparent tradition is absent in Bengali culture; all the same, like Linnet, I was raised not only by my mother and father but by other adults, members of their social circle, who exerted their influences on me.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Verb
Edward Kelley, 36, was found guilty in November 2024 and sentenced on July 2 for his charges of conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing a federal official by threat.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
According to Amex, 43 percent of Gen Z and Millennials say tennis influences their personal style; 41 percent already accessorize with charms, and 61 percent are styling trainers with smart looks this summer.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influence
Noun
-
The world's wealthy are seeking cutting-edge retail experiences, but the personal touch of interacting with their favorite luxury stores still holds ultimate sway.—
Forbes Research,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Motorola, with its back-in-the-pack position and the uncertainty about whether its new Moto X phone would be a hit, had little sway in comparison.—
Verne Kopytoff,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
The watch will remain in effect until 7 p.m. with up to 10 inches possible, the National Weather Service said in an alert.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island effect, the extent of which is worsening with climate change.—
Time,
Time,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
Nearly 3,000 properties nationwide are affected — and a staggering number are right here in South Florida, with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties at ground zero.—
Peter S. Sachs,
Sun Sentinel,
6 July 2025
-
Intimate partner violence affects as many as 10 million Americans every year.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
America has the diplomatic and economic leverage to make, and enforce, such demands.—
Michelle Flowers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
Leagues should try using their leverage to demand an end to these kinds of within-game wagers, which seem like a shameless come-on for those who are addiction-prone. .—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Ironically, the impact will hit especially hard in Republican areas–a fact that Forbes (and others) thought last November might protect the industry from such savage cuts.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
This could be a $6 million per season deal that doesn't pan out to being an impact addition.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
One who has yet to impress much, however, is Venables.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
10 July 2025
-
Despite the needle moving back to middle ground between hawks and doves on the FOMC, economists weren’t impressed by the developments.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
This means moving beyond keywords and building content around buyer intent, clear answers, and proof of authority.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The Hierophant brings up tradition, structure, and the influence of authority.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influence. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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