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sway

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of sway

1 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 of sway

effect, impact, influence, mark, repercussion
Words Related to sway

authority, clout, prestige, pull, weight

command, domination, dominion, mastery

consequence, importance, significance

sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy
Near Antonyms of sway

helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

2 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly

  • outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities
Synonyms of sway

authority, clout, credit, heft, in, influence, juice [slang], leverage, pull, weight
Words Related to sway

counterinfluence

command, dominance, dominion, mastery, predominance, reign, scepter, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy

consequence, eminence, importance, moment

impact, impress, impression, imprint, mark
Near Antonyms of sway

helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

3 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 of sway

arm, authority, clutch, command, control, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery, power, reign, rein(s)
Words Related to sway

clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight

jurisdiction

direction, management

dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy

prerogative, privilege, right

eminence, importance, moment
Near Antonyms of sway

helplessness, weakness
Antonyms of sway

impotence, impotency, powerlessness

Synonym Discussion of sway

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 personʼs 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.
    • the door suddenly swung open
sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.
    • trees swaying in the breeze
oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.
    • an oscillating fan
vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.
    • the vibrating strings of a piano
fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.
    • fluctuating interest rates
waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.
    • the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing
undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.
    • an undulating sea of grass

Learn More about sway

  1. See words that rhyme with sway Dictionary: Definition of sway Spanish Central: Translation of sway Nglish: Translation of sway for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sway for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sway

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