Thesaurus

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

- the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

- granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

- the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

- you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

- the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

- the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

- given dominion over all the animals

sway

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of sway

1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

how can you not be swayed by that precious kitten, meowing as if to say, "Please take me home with you?"

Synonyms of sway

affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, tell (on), touch

Words Related to sway

carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall (or enthral), ravish, transport

bias, color

inspire, stir

engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce

afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring

allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate

Phrases Synonymous with sway

get to

Near Antonyms of sway

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

underwhelm

2 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions

the way the ski lift was swaying in the wind made me nervous

Synonyms of sway

careen, lurch, pitch, rock, roll, seesaw, toss, wobble (also wabble)

Words Related to sway

blunder, buck, dodder, falter, flounder, halt, hitch, hobble, jerk, jolt, reel, shake, stagger, stumble, teeter, toddle, totter, tumble, vacillate, vibrate, waddle, waver, weave

oscillate, undulate, wag, waggle

3 archaic to exercise authority or power over

an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world

Synonyms of sway

boss, captain, command, control, govern, preside (over), rule

Words Related to sway

conduct, direct, head, lead

administer, manage, micromanage, oversee, regulate, superintend, supervise

dictate, dominate, domineer, lord (it over), master, oppress, reign (over), tyrannize

conquer, subdue, subjugate

Synonym Discussion of sway

swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite. swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.