1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leverage
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in power
the right or means to command or control others
a time when Rome held sway over a vast empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to influence
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lurch
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the way the ski lift was swaying in the wind made me nervous
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to govern
archaic
to exercise authority or power over
an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Natalie Weiner,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
Movement through this passage promotes concerns that the Persian Gulf Strait Authority still holds sway in the movement of vessels throughout the strait.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Venezuela residents reeling from quakes During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings.
—
Megan Janetsky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sway
Noun
The rhythm section is downright molten, an understated, earthy sway beneath Davis’ soaring melodies.
—
Natalie Weiner,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
Movement through this passage promotes concerns that the Persian Gulf Strait Authority still holds sway in the movement of vessels throughout the strait.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Verb
Andy Burnham, the charismatic former mayor of Greater Manchester, once rebuffed the idea that government decisions should be swayed by investors in its ballooning pile of debt.
—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Venezuela residents reeling from quakes During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings.
—
Megan Janetsky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway
Noun
-
Conservative critics seized upon those allegations, accusing Hosseini of exerting outsized influence over UF’s presidential search process and questioning whether trustees had exercised independent judgment in selecting Bell.
-
The democratic socialist mayor expanded his influence over the Democratic Party, going three for three in congressional primaries.
Noun
-
Iran is using their ties to the United States as leverage along with control of the Strait of Hormuz.
-
The president said that Iran was not in a position to wield such leverage and accused the press of lending Tehran favorable coverage throughout the conflict.
Noun
-
To put these figures in perspective, the entire city of San Francisco consumes about 1 gigawatt of power.
-
The Hermosa Beach Pier closed Sunday morning after a truck collided with nearby power lines.
Verb
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
-
At least 383 buildings and over 1,000 other structures had collapsed or were heavily affected, and officials were still assessing the damage.
Verb
-
The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
-
Initial data indicates both of these earthquakes were strike-slip, Magnani said, meaning one plate lurched past the other along the boundary.
Verb
-
While the district’s mayor and council have governed it since 1973, Congress has the right to review and repeal its laws and budget, as well as appoint its judges, despite residents not having voting representation in federal politics.
-
The governing body refused to restrict Pride displays, giving fans the green light to bring rainbow flags and symbols into the stadium.
Noun
-
Strength training has measurable effects on executive function and processing speed.
-
Read more about the effects of heat – and how to keep yourself safe – here.
Noun
-
Residents of the peninsula are often reluctant to speak out publicly given the control Russia enforces on the ground.
-
At-home routines give you more control over how aggressively your nails are filed and how gently polish is removed.
Cite this Entry
“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
