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
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Recent Examples of influences
Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
The trailer blends European fantasy with Japanese animation influences.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 May 2026
With a unique blend of Italian and Jersey influences, Davi shares insights and advice through empowering content and a live touring show addressing topics like dating, family dynamics, financial freedom, and how to be a man in the modern world.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 May 2026
While rooted in Kansas City identity, newer collections began incorporating elements that reflect a broader Midwest lifestyle, including workwear and outdoor influences.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Sterling cited Mel Allen, Russ Hodges and Jim Karvellas as influences.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Yet the influences on their heartfelt, often horny gay British drama are far broader.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
On Witness And Respair by Jesmyn Ward Jesmyn Ward reflects on over a decade of life and writing, exploring her upbringing in rural Mississippi, literary influences, and personal tragedies with hauntingly lyrical prose.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
Asking a musician about their influences can elicit a boiler plate response revealing little about their mindset and motivations.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 May 2026
The look, including logos, packaging and anything else a customer sees before experiencing the product, influences the customer’s decision.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Media coverage also influences which questions people bring into the consultation.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
This perspective influences every element of the record.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 7 May 2026
Poverty influences reproductive decisions Money is another important factor in people’s reproductive choices.
—Gretchen E. Ely, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Size also influences how quickly or slowly the compost takes.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Manufacturers should always be able to clearly articulate how and why technology influences decisions.
—Mike Kelleher, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
The key to making the right decision for your situation is understanding how the process works, what influences the outcome and whether the potential benefits outweigh the drawbacks in your circumstances.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Like almost all modern iterations of music, the genre of Catalan rumba has evolved alongside streaming-era influences and the younger generations of musicians who have taken up its sonic essences and distilled them through their own lenses.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
The trailer blends European fantasy with Japanese animation influences.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 May 2026
With a unique blend of Italian and Jersey influences, Davi shares insights and advice through empowering content and a live touring show addressing topics like dating, family dynamics, financial freedom, and how to be a man in the modern world.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 May 2026
While rooted in Kansas City identity, newer collections began incorporating elements that reflect a broader Midwest lifestyle, including workwear and outdoor influences.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Sterling cited Mel Allen, Russ Hodges and Jim Karvellas as influences.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Yet the influences on their heartfelt, often horny gay British drama are far broader.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
On Witness And Respair by Jesmyn Ward Jesmyn Ward reflects on over a decade of life and writing, exploring her upbringing in rural Mississippi, literary influences, and personal tragedies with hauntingly lyrical prose.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
Asking a musician about their influences can elicit a boiler plate response revealing little about their mindset and motivations.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Verb
Adding more of this hormone influences the markings on their babies’ backs—either bars or stripes—which provide different forms of camouflage in different environments.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 May 2026
The look, including logos, packaging and anything else a customer sees before experiencing the product, influences the customer’s decision.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Media coverage also influences which questions people bring into the consultation.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
This perspective influences every element of the record.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 7 May 2026
Poverty influences reproductive decisions Money is another important factor in people’s reproductive choices.
—Gretchen E. Ely, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Size also influences how quickly or slowly the compost takes.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Manufacturers should always be able to clearly articulate how and why technology influences decisions.
—Mike Kelleher, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
The key to making the right decision for your situation is understanding how the process works, what influences the outcome and whether the potential benefits outweigh the drawbacks in your circumstances.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influences
Noun
-
No immediate impact likely for world oil markets The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
These spillover effects are deepening an arc of instability stretching from Europe to the Middle East, from Africa to Asia.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome affects the kidneys and causes a wide range of symptoms, including blurred vision, low blood pressure, acute shock, internal bleeding and kidney failure.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The question of how Venus’s atmosphere affects probes isn’t just about the past—the list of artifacts may be growing soon because more probes are set to land on Venus.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Even tackle football players attend games, shouting out the leverages and coverages of opponents from the bleachers.—
PJ Green
April 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Beyond extending flight time, the shift to hydrogen leverages the laws of physics to improve drone reliability.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Also, women who are pregnant and their fetuses, children, older adults and people living with chronic conditions, especially heart and lung disease, may be physically more susceptible to the health impacts of air pollution than other adults, according to the American Lung Association.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In recent years, the helicopters have drawn more and more complaints about high operating costs and the potential health impacts from noise pollution.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of the route running impresses me.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Also Astellas is reentering the clinic with a next-generation gene therapy for XLMTM and Intellia’s CRISPR therapy for hereditary angioedema impresses.—
Meghana Keshavan,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her husband died about a week later of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s, authorities said.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The authorities are starting to work.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Legal work that touches immigration status or physical injury can bring fear to the surface again and again.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kansas City-area Representatives Sam Graves, who represents a swath of northern Missouri, and Mark Alford, whose district touches the metro and central Missouri, similarly both made statements about the attack.—
Jack Harvel
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Remove the weights and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the crust is light golden brown.—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Lift weights earlier in the day.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Influences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influences. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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