INFLUENCES Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

influences 1 of 2

noun

plural of influence

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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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influences

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of influence

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

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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

Noun

Alonetogether, an upscale restaurant from Houston chef Jonny Rhodes, has opened in Midtown with a menu rooted in Haitian-French-Creole cooking with Thai influences. —

Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 6 June 2026 The greatest influences of my life lived and created here. —

Gene Park, Washington Post, 6 June 2026 The influences around [the ‘80s] were very pop-driven. —

Matt Minton, Variety, 6 June 2026 It could be argued that the ideal audience for a song consists of people who can appreciate its pedigree—all of the influences that combined to inspire that specific work. —

Juliet Izon, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026 Their music is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at Warped Tour this year, where some of the foundational early-’00s influences will be welcomed with a new generation’s touch. —

Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 4 June 2026 Early-life exposures, including body weight at age 10 and maternal smoking, also showed measurable effects on aging outcomes decades later, which underscores just how long these influences stretch. —

Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026 Adelman died at 79, but not before leaving his mark on the NBA and becoming one of Spoelstra’s biggest basketball influences. —

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026 Former Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman, who died Monday at 79, is being remembered by his former players as one of the top influences on their careers and lives. —

Ruyuan Li, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026

Verb

Catching shifts early increases awareness of how your state influences your behavior. —

Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Water influences every aspect of our lives through a delicate cycle that transforms liquid water into vapor and back again. —

David Boutt, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 Taxpayers deserve far greater transparency about how the office influences higher education, economic development, land management and state policy. —

Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 May 2026 The bond market influences borrowing costs for things like mortgages, credit card loans and auto loans. —

Allie Canal, NBC news, 20 May 2026 Because the 10-year Treasury influences mortgage rates, borrowing costs could increase for homebuyers. —

Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 May 2026 Endometriosis About 25-50% of infertile women have endometriosis, which influences fertility in several ways. —

Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 20 May 2026 Here’s a look at how color influences jalapeño heat, plus tips on how to get your hands on the hottest jalapeños. —

Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2026 The study found that locomotion strongly influences handedness patterns across primates. —

Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for influences

Noun

Climate models predict a continued, long-term decline of snowpack as the effects of climate change intensify.

— Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026
Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.

— Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 2 June 2026