1
as in sways
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 effects
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 affects
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of influences
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Exhibits — including displays of traditional art and the accounts of community members’ experiences — show how isolation on coastal and island plantations led them to create a culture, food and language of their own, drawing heavily on influences carried from Africa.
—Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
That’s the word from drummer Danny Carey, who sat for a free-wheeling chat with Spiral Out Network, covering AI music, his love of the Blade Runner soundtrack, musical influences (the Police’s Stewart Copeland is one), and things to come.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2026
The erudite Lookingglass, which featured famously good-looking actors and looked to such influences as the Pilobolus dance company and Cirque du Soleil, added a crucial third leg to the city’s cultural stool.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Southern cuisine combines influences from African, Native American, and European traditions, but too often only the latter is credited.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
The sense of playfulness and experimentation extended to Fennell and Sandgren’s influences and reference points, which went beyond other films and even paintings and into more unorthodox areas.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
In Dorian Gray, the approach underlined Dorian’s split personalities, as well as the way in which the young man was a construct of the various conflicting influences upon him.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Other artistic influences in the one-sheets included Mad magazine and the artist Robert Williams.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Billboard Japan, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
However, that dynamic begins to shift when geopolitical conflict can directly impact the global oil market, which influences consumer prices and business decisions across the globe.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
In response to the team’s findings—some of the first on how DNA influences sleep—thousands of people reached out.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Cortisol influences fat storage and eating behaviors.
—Rita Templeton, Flow Space, 18 Feb. 2026
Beet juice influences nitric oxide production, which regulates blood pressure and oxygen delivery throughout the body.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2026
Fat Content The fat content of the fish influences how well the fish freezes and defrosts.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Sagittarius Moon The moon, which spends about two to three days in each sign, influences your emotions and intuition.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
This includes requiring genuine community input with clear documentation on how feedback influences outcomes.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
Designed by Hong Kong wunderkind Andre Fu, the hotel’s serene interiors balance understated Japanese influences with extraordinary harbor, city, and mountain views.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Exhibits — including displays of traditional art and the accounts of community members’ experiences — show how isolation on coastal and island plantations led them to create a culture, food and language of their own, drawing heavily on influences carried from Africa.
—Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
That’s the word from drummer Danny Carey, who sat for a free-wheeling chat with Spiral Out Network, covering AI music, his love of the Blade Runner soundtrack, musical influences (the Police’s Stewart Copeland is one), and things to come.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2026
The erudite Lookingglass, which featured famously good-looking actors and looked to such influences as the Pilobolus dance company and Cirque du Soleil, added a crucial third leg to the city’s cultural stool.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Southern cuisine combines influences from African, Native American, and European traditions, but too often only the latter is credited.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
The sense of playfulness and experimentation extended to Fennell and Sandgren’s influences and reference points, which went beyond other films and even paintings and into more unorthodox areas.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
In Dorian Gray, the approach underlined Dorian’s split personalities, as well as the way in which the young man was a construct of the various conflicting influences upon him.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Other artistic influences in the one-sheets included Mad magazine and the artist Robert Williams.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
From Billboard Japan’s perspective as a music media outlet, the conversation also explores how Uketsu engages with music in daily life and how that listening influences his creative work.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
However, that dynamic begins to shift when geopolitical conflict can directly impact the global oil market, which influences consumer prices and business decisions across the globe.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
In response to the team’s findings—some of the first on how DNA influences sleep—thousands of people reached out.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Cortisol influences fat storage and eating behaviors.
—Rita Templeton, Flow Space, 18 Feb. 2026
Beet juice influences nitric oxide production, which regulates blood pressure and oxygen delivery throughout the body.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2026
Fat Content The fat content of the fish influences how well the fish freezes and defrosts.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Sagittarius Moon The moon, which spends about two to three days in each sign, influences your emotions and intuition.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
This includes requiring genuine community input with clear documentation on how feedback influences outcomes.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influences
Noun
-
The San Francisco medical examiner released a report Tuesday ruling her death accidental, the result of the toxic effects of cocaine.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
When snowpack runs low, the effects ripple months later — shrinking reservoirs, stressed supplies, and tougher water decisions as temperatures rise.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Balich said the 143rd Street road expansion project greatly affects the district.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Measuring how the climate crisis affects the frequency of these avalanches is difficult, scientists say.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
OneTeam Partners negotiates media deals and leverages players’ name, image and licensing rights.—
David Carrillo Peñaloza,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Vance Joseph’s defense in Denver is often predicated on playing certain leverages within man coverage.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The impacts are expected to last until March 15, but a second project is scheduled for the fall.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This storm would bring the potential for coastal flooding and marine impacts, even with a more offshore track.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Performance is where the lens really impresses.—
Tantse Walter,
Space.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Woodard's philosophy is to put the best players on the field, which includes any freshman who impresses her.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Turkey arrests journalist on insult claim ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities on Friday formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of social media posts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Within seconds, a tsunami of ice, snow and debris the size of a football field careened downhill around them, thick enough to nearly bury a house, authorities said, citing the accounts of survivors.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And this touches what seems the central tension of the poem, that God doesn’t have to live with and experience the repercussions of their choices and actions; the speaker does.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Any plates, cups, mugs, silverware, or casserole dishes must be cleaned before food touches the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Secure the fabric to the ground with ties or weights.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The moves were tentative, though, and Nvidia swung between being one of the market’s heaviest weights and one of its biggest strengths.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Influences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influences. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
