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the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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

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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?"

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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

Softening rather than stiffening when moving through space requires embracing your body’s natural sway and tiny micro-movements, like an ankle wobbling or knee jiggling. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 That’s given Betancourt tremendous sway in Venezuelan oil circles, the people said, in spite of years of investigations in Europe, the US and Venezuela over allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax fraud. — Fabiola Zerpa, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

But forcing heavy steel trains onto a floating highway that rolls, sways, and shifts with the tides was widely considered an invitation to disaster. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Opponents argue that the large number of Israelis living abroad could potentially sway an election, even though those living in Israel bear the consequences of its outcome more directly. — Natasha Mozgovaya, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sway

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway

Noun

Still, oil's influence extends far beyond the professional traders and companies that dominate its market.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
When the internet is rife with influence and inspiration, who gets credit when someone is compelled to buy something online?

— Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of influence

Noun

But The Debut grows to become something altogether wilder, a fire-breathing encomium to the reality-altering power of acting.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Singapore is leveraging its scarce land, energy, and population to bolster its regulatory and agenda-setting power over data centers and sustainability.

— Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of power

Verb

From union rallies at Sacramento State to a major social media bill headed to the governor’s desk, this week brought developments that affect students, parents, homeowners and residents across the region.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
That would affect jobs and cause drops in sales, property and tourism taxes.

— Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

In 2025, World Tennis, the sport’s world governing body, changed the rules, allowing it essentially everywhere.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
But the administration has also been working to water down historic-preservation rules governing federal projects just as the arch has become subject to that process.

— Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of govern

Noun

The extremely small separation between the two graphene systems allowed the screening effect to be much stronger than in earlier experiments.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Diesel also faces higher seasonal demand that is compounding the effects of the supply shortages.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of effect

Noun

These trajectories document a robot’s behavior before an intervention, the moment a human operator takes control, and the corrective actions used to recover or complete the task.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Having control over a venue allows stadiums to be designed specifically with a women’s sports fan in mind, which can be critical to gameday experience.

— Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of control

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swatting

sway

swayed

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Style

“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sway

noun

verb

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