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
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Owner Gary Leybman offers unique deli sandwiches and sides inspired by his childhood in Belarus, with a heavy dose of Cincinnati influences.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
However, according to the survey, competitive pressure is the top factor influencing pricing decisions, cited by 50% of CFOs.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Noun
The frogs were found in three areas, and each area has significant human influences, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Owner Gary Leybman offers unique deli sandwiches and sides inspired by his childhood in Belarus, with a heavy dose of Cincinnati influences.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Activation can mean campaign work or talking to local or national officials, Pressman said, as well as willingness to participate in boycotts and strikes to influence political and corporate behavior.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
However, according to the survey, competitive pressure is the top factor influencing pricing decisions, cited by 50% of CFOs.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influence
Noun
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Elisabeth Moss plays a former sitcom star who, after losing one too many jobs to younger actresses, comes under the sway of a powerful wellness guru (Kate Hudson) but begins to sense something sinister afoot.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Proxy advisory firms have long held sway over Wall Street, but their recommendations are even more prominent today, when almost two thirds of the American public has a stake in the stock market .—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The new rules went into effect for the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in 2023, according to an internal memo obtained by The National.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Different types of fiber have different effects on the body.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hitt also said that tariffs have not significantly affected the business.—
Sydney Sasser,
Arkansas Online,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Johnson says the concussion affected his ability to concentrate and even altered his personality that year, which dovetailed with the release of his 2010 double album, The Guitar Song.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Beijing, in other words, got Washington to forswear one of its best economic tools just as China was wielding its own leverage.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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The agreement could be a key piece of leverage in responding to China’s control of rare earth minerals.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
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Experts bemoan the loneliness epidemic and its impact on youth, mental health, longevity, and chronic pain.—
Joni Eareckson Tada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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The classroom was a chance to impress Alex.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But last week, the company was declared a transnational criminal organization by United States authorities, and Chen was charged in absentia in New York with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, along with several associates.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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The man and his uncle were on their way to a home remodeling job when immigration authorities attempted to stop their truck in his Avondale neighborhood.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influence. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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