sway 1 of 2

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as in influence
the power to bring about a result on another under the sway of euphoria, she offered to take us all out to dinner in celebration of her new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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sway

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sway contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sway are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and power. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

When can authority be used instead of sway?

The meanings of authority and sway largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can command take the place of sway?

While in some cases nearly identical to sway, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for sway?

In some situations, the words control and sway are roughly equivalent. However, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When could dominion be used to replace sway?

The synonyms dominion and sway are sometimes interchangeable, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is jurisdiction a more appropriate choice than sway?

The words jurisdiction and sway are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

When is it sensible to use power instead of sway?

The words power and sway can be used in similar contexts, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

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 sway
Noun
Technology leaders who report to the CEO are more likely to have greater sway in vital digital era strategic and operational decisions. Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 The Redstone family holds nearly 77% of Paramount’s voting shares, giving the heiress tremendous sway. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Verb
Another key move that swayed Campillo and von Wilpert was eliminating $3 million in new revenue from digital billboards that was included in a previous version of the budget. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 Poor standing posture can cause new issues: Standing with locked knees, swaying the back due to weak core muscles, or shifting weight to one leg can create asymmetry and stress throughout the spine and lower limbs. Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway
Noun
  • This is the new reality: The click may vanish, but the influence remains.
    Sergio Alvarez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Many have pointed to a deeper reason the case went cold: an unwillingness to cross lines of influence, power and fear that ran far beyond music.
    Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • As part of a long push to dig itself out of a financial hole triggered by the Covid pandemic, AMC Entertainment announced a multi-pronged agreement with creditors and lenders to reduce its leverage and take out near-term maturities.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • Make Better Leave And Accommodations Decisions HR teams leverage leave management platforms to make better leave and accommodations decisions while the tech does the heavy lifting.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The vacuum adjusts suction power automatically to match your floor type, which also helps to optimize runtime.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • Black and Brown communities already hold immense economic power.
    Oumou Fofana, Essence, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Nearly 3,000 properties nationwide are affected — and a staggering number are right here in South Florida, with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties at ground zero.
    Peter S. Sachs, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • Intimate partner violence affects as many as 10 million Americans every year.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • On June 18th, the Karen Read saga finally lurched to its inevitable end, when a Norfolk County jury, assigned the unenviable task of spending spring and early summer watching corruption theater in Dedham court, acquitted Ms. Read of all the serious charges against her.
    Tom Blakely, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
  • More to come on this one as the American media M&A space makes another lurch forwards.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • As companies adopt these tools, the stakes go beyond efficiency—how AI is designed, deployed and governed will shape its real-world impact on organizations and the people who run them.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The working-class Americans who trusted Republicans to have their backs are now set to learn a painful lesson about the difference between campaign promises and governing priorities.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The watch will remain in effect until 7 p.m. with up to 10 inches possible, the National Weather Service said in an alert.
    Hannah Parry Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • The effect means that the taxpayer will record $100 of income from two bets, even though the taxpayer did not actually win any money.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Because many of the scenes are shot through windows or doorways, the camera can seem sympathetic to Agnes’s struggle to regain control.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 29 June 2025
  • In traditional robots, a control system analyzes sensory data and tells the machine what to do.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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