1
as in influence
the power to bring about a result on another
under the sway of euphoria, she offered to take us all out to dinner in celebration of her new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leverage
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in power
the right or means to command or control others
a time when Rome held sway over a vast empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to influence
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response
how can you not be swayed by that precious kitten, meowing as if to say, "Please take me home with you?"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lurch
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the way the ski lift was swaying in the wind made me nervous
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to govern
archaic
to exercise authority or power over
an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sway
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 29 Aug. 2025
The new board member could have some sway over the outcome of the budget vote.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Nor was the judge swayed by prosecutors’ arguments that Fernandes Anderson’s actions since her arrest and federal indictment last December, conviction in May, and resignation in July, were indicative of a lack of proper remorse on the former councilor’s part.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sway
Noun
For decades, that picture held sway, but slight discrepancies between those different methods of measuring the Universe appeared and remained, becoming very significant here in the 2020s.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 29 Aug. 2025
The new board member could have some sway over the outcome of the budget vote.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
In a breeze, the solar lights sway softly, flickering like fireflies.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Nor was the judge swayed by prosecutors’ arguments that Fernandes Anderson’s actions since her arrest and federal indictment last December, conviction in May, and resignation in July, were indicative of a lack of proper remorse on the former councilor’s part.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway
Noun
-
By the mid-1930s, however, Husseini’s influence was dimming.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Fall’s fashion trends mark a return to classicism, with influences from academia and the English countryside, and few pieces capture the mood as effortlessly as blazers.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Bowlan will go over different notes from the pitching staff and check in with his veteran teammates for advice on pitch selection and how to handle high-leverage situations.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The aim shifts from corporate adoption to personal leverage.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Expect spectacle, but also a story about claiming identity and embracing power.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Boise trustees have the unusual power to increase or decrease property tax collections.—
Kevin Richert,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If $3 billion in additional funding through 2090 isn't approved, and soon, tens of thousands of people from different genders, races and cultural backgrounds will be affected.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Exchange rates affect everything from groceries to retirement.—
Tom Zachystal,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the face of this onslaught, the alcohol industry’s efforts to make drinking popular again have lurched into paranoia.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The allegiance transfer rulings were last changed by the sport’s governing body in 2018, when the minimum three-year waiting period (to compete internationally) was introduced.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
After the race was over, the governing body gave its ruling on the collision.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It’s not fully fleshed out, but a parallel could be made to the effects of anxiety and trauma, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms that accompany them.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Research on its gut health effects is mixed.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Somehow, the Hollywood star was still welcomed into the cockpit by the starstruck flight crew and allowed to briefly take control of the airliner.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Shut out of control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Democrats are seeking to rebuild their brand with the American electorate following a poor performance during the 2024 presidential election.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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