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
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of influences
Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
How much of that comes from your own instincts versus borrowing from past or present influences?
—Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The film has clear influences from slashers like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and was widely lauded for bringing fresh life to the genre, with some critics even deeming it a love letter to all that came before it.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Fall’s fashion trends mark a return to classicism, with influences from academia and the English countryside, and few pieces capture the mood as effortlessly as blazers.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Here, the artist takes us back to the communal spirit, creative ethos, and cultural influences that shaped Cripple Crow in this brief oral history.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
The multi-course tasting-menu experience will take guests through all parts of Korean fine dining—with touches of global influences—in an immersive experience, using seasonal ingredients and pieces of both land and sea as part of its offerings.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
This roster runs particularly deep, from the boogie-woogie blues (Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters) to the bar rock scene (Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy) and the extensive hip-hop multiverse (where both gospel and drill influences abound).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Goodman’s novel is a tribute to her influences, and a crackling joy to read.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Michaels then reflected on how the demographic of the show influences the casting and the changes.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Stress or overconfidence distorts risk perception and influences decisions far more than spreadsheets.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The reason may be a gene mutation called MC1R, which influences how the body responds to pain and anesthesia.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
That's a variable that influences the outcome of a study and sometimes even creates a false association.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
This guides both the fashion influences the company chooses to follow, as well as the creation of functional, emotionally durable garments.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
Designers typically ignored how pad thickness or surface area influences performance.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Their lab now influences how global companies specify components and design for longevity, safety, and ROI, helping prevent thermal runaway propagation, mitigate corrosion, and elevate system ruggedness.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Alan Faena collaborated with the Faena Design Team and Peter Mikic Studios to create interiors that weave Faena’s signature design with local influences that honor Manhattan’s energy.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
How much of that comes from your own instincts versus borrowing from past or present influences?
—Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The film has clear influences from slashers like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and was widely lauded for bringing fresh life to the genre, with some critics even deeming it a love letter to all that came before it.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Fall’s fashion trends mark a return to classicism, with influences from academia and the English countryside, and few pieces capture the mood as effortlessly as blazers.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Here, the artist takes us back to the communal spirit, creative ethos, and cultural influences that shaped Cripple Crow in this brief oral history.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
The multi-course tasting-menu experience will take guests through all parts of Korean fine dining—with touches of global influences—in an immersive experience, using seasonal ingredients and pieces of both land and sea as part of its offerings.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
This roster runs particularly deep, from the boogie-woogie blues (Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters) to the bar rock scene (Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy) and the extensive hip-hop multiverse (where both gospel and drill influences abound).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Goodman’s novel is a tribute to her influences, and a crackling joy to read.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Those choices form the invisible curriculum that influences how students think, collaborate, and eventually lead as professionals and citizens.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Michaels then reflected on how the demographic of the show influences the casting and the changes.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Stress or overconfidence distorts risk perception and influences decisions far more than spreadsheets.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The reason may be a gene mutation called MC1R, which influences how the body responds to pain and anesthesia.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
That's a variable that influences the outcome of a study and sometimes even creates a false association.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
This guides both the fashion influences the company chooses to follow, as well as the creation of functional, emotionally durable garments.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
Designers typically ignored how pad thickness or surface area influences performance.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Their lab now influences how global companies specify components and design for longevity, safety, and ROI, helping prevent thermal runaway propagation, mitigate corrosion, and elevate system ruggedness.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influences
Noun
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This innovative installation may hold one of the keys to accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels that scientists say is necessary if the world is to avoid the worst effects of climate change.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Notably, this same mechanism underlies cocaine’s effects, highlighting its potency.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bush described this as a way to support employment, family ties, and stability, recognizing that reentry affects not just former prisoners but also public safety.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Employers counter that the cost of providing what unions want adversely affects their competitiveness in other states and nations and forces them to raise prices, reduce employment or even leave California to remain solvent.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Subnet 34 leverages models built for Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity analysis to verify images and videos.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
FashFind leverages computer vision paired with machine learning algorithms to identify the unique attributes submitted products have—whether that’s color, fabric type, patterns, silhouette, length or otherwise.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Like Kiko, the center of dozens of storms passed close enough to leave impacts from winds, rain and rough seas.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
More Spencer Platt/Getty Images In the days, weeks, and years that followed, survivors faced debilitating health impacts caused by the toxic ash that filled the Manhattan air.—
Andrew Garbarino,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The iPhone 17 Air impresses with its ultra-thin profile and new battery technology.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
While the size of the place impresses, there’s also some questionable decor throughout the interior.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Utah authorities released photos of the person of interest in the shooting on Thursday in which the individual can be seen on steps while carrying a black backpack and wearing a shirt with what appeared to be an American flag print on it.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
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In spite of Husseini’s role in leading a pogrom in Jerusalem in 1920, British authorities made Husseini the grand mufti of Jerusalem, the leading Muslim cleric in the land.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Folks know that the injuries where nobody touches you are usually, probably the most serious ones.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Planting Dignity in Every Backyard Food insecurity touches forty-four million Americans, thirteen million of them children.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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To maintain comparability, the weights assigned to these criteria have been held constant.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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On top of that, a gallery rail system easily accommodates different frame sizes, shapes, weights, and thicknesses, which allows for ultra-layered, completely unique arrangements.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Influences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influences. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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