impress

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon. affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

• • the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

• • our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

• • plants touched by frost
• • his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

• • only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

• • struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

• • politicians who are swayed by popular opinion