sphere of influence
noun phrase
: a territorial area within which the political influence or the interests of one nation are held to be more or less paramount
Examples of sphere of influence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, analysts warn that Washington’s levies, as well as the expiry of a sub-Saharan Africa-US free trade deal, will push African nations even closer to Beijing’s sphere of influence.
—
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The document set out a 10-year strategy for bringing Moldova within Russia’s sphere of influence and appeared to have been written in 2021 by the FSB’s Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Perhaps the United States will ultimately see continental Southeast Asia as part of a natural sphere of influence for China.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Russian power is limited to establishing a Eurasian sphere of influence across its former Soviet republics and disrupting liberal democracies.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sphere of influence
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.
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The document set out a 10-year strategy for bringing Moldova within Russia’s sphere of influence and appeared to have been written in 2021 by the FSB’s Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Perhaps the United States will ultimately see continental Southeast Asia as part of a natural sphere of influence for China.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Russian power is limited to establishing a Eurasian sphere of influence across its former Soviet republics and disrupting liberal democracies.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sphere of influence
Cite this Entry
“Sphere of influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sphere%20of%20influence. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share