SWAY Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sway 1 of 2

noun

ˈswā

Definition of sway

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

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the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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

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

sway

2 of 2

verb

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

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

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

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

Tehran probably does not hold enough sway over the relatively autonomous Houthis, for instance, to induce that group to end its military action against Saudi Arabia. — Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026 The filing also calls for several watchdogs in and outside the studio, though not all positions will do the same job or share equal sway over chairman and CEO David Ellison. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

The Justice Department also says Beijing is determined to sway American public opinion in its favor by cultivating relationships with political figures seen as having access to the levers of power. — Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026 George Cheeks will rule TV, overseeing the linear channels and TV studios, which still holds enormous influence and sway. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sway

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway

Noun

Wall Street’s role in financing the AI boom and data centers, a contentious election issue, as well as its influence on housing and other affordability challenges, is also likely to draw scrutiny, said attorneys and analysts.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
The Mexican pop icon will receive the accolade in recognition of an exceptional career spanning over three decades and his enduring influence on Latin music.

— Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of influence

Noun

The more balanced market gives home shoppers potentially more leverage in negotiating better terms with sellers, especially if a property has not fetched offers in weeks or months.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Leveraged basis trades have partly unwound without notable pressure in the short-term loan market but the leverage that remains is a concern.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of leverage

Noun

Its boosted flat-six engine receives a power bump, and rear-axle steering is now standard, as are larger brakes with six-piston calipers up front.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Europe is now home to some of the most promising companies building clean power, while remaining an expensive place to buy it.

— Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of power

Verb

Miller's new ad opens with a somber sequence of close-ups of various people's faces as the congressman talks about how divorce affects families.

— Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
State officials say those affected are eligible for 24 months of free identity-protection services and identity-restoration help.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

For years, the NCAA has urged Congress to pass federal legislation that would curb lawsuits challenging its rules, which govern hundreds of thousands of athletes nationwide.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
The unrest is emerging as the biggest threat to Rama, who has governed since 2013 and won a fourth term in elections last year.

— Reuters, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of govern

Noun

Forecasters say this year's could be among the strongest on record, and its effects are already being felt across South America and far beyond.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In one example, the institution’s claim that California’s minimum wage law for fast-food workers had devastated the job market for those workers was tripped up by its failure to recognize the effect of seasonal adjustments in employment statistics.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of effect

Noun

At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
That includes colorblock styling, chunky knobs and physical controls, and simple shapes that make each device memorable and distinctive.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Browse Nearby Words

swatting

sway

swayed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sway

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on sway

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bon vivant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes