as in influenced
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1
as in affected
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
2
as in lurched
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the way the ski lift was swaying in the wind made me nervous
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3
as in ruled
archaic
to exercise authority or power over
an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swayed
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Business executives, at least some, are less swayed by the hype and more level-headed about the costs and benefits of using AI.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
The protest represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Her efforts have thus far not swayed the Senate, which has chosen instead to advance two alternative tax relief bills introduced by state Sens.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Erbert Hough then flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiled and swayed together.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The attackers swayed back and forth, their bodies working as battering rams.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The little tooth plant swayed in the breeze.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Everyone danced and swayed, lazy smiles on their faces.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
After getting out of the car, Rias almost fell two times, failed to walk in a straight line and swayed with each step, the complaint said.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
When betting on a startup’s future potential, Graham is typically more swayed by his impression of its founders than the idea behind their business, the co-founder of startup accelerator Y Combinator wrote in a series of posts on social media platform X on August 10.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Business executives, at least some, are less swayed by the hype and more level-headed about the costs and benefits of using AI.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
Don’t be swayed by the self-congratulatory rhetoric.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
The protest represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Her efforts have thus far not swayed the Senate, which has chosen instead to advance two alternative tax relief bills introduced by state Sens.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Erbert Hough then flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiled and swayed together.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The attackers swayed back and forth, their bodies working as battering rams.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The little tooth plant swayed in the breeze.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Everyone danced and swayed, lazy smiles on their faces.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
After getting out of the car, Rias almost fell two times, failed to walk in a straight line and swayed with each step, the complaint said.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swayed
Verb
-
Jaramillo’s father was a veteran police officer who influenced him greatly.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Traffic congestion, public transit’s effect on neighborhoods and notable endorsements likely influenced voters most, local leaders and political experts say.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner first ruled his death an apparent suicide.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But the Florida Supreme Court in 2017 ruled the new law was unconstitutional, saying jury verdicts needed to be unanimous.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Almost 30 families have been displaced, with the American Red Cross assisting those who have been affected.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Despite some hopeful signs, the report warned that the South Bay office market remains in tough shape compared to its state before a global outbreak affected the job market and overall economy starting in March 2020.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pamela Anderson has rocked a bob for some time now, but her latest 'do includes pops of pastel pink.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That’s a huge decline from the 125 homicides that rocked the city in 2023.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The authority is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the governor.—
Joshua Haiar,
States Newsroom,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Not everyone is convinced economic talk is the way back into voters’ good graces.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Fabrice Cavarretta, associate professor of management at ESSEC Business School isn’t totally convinced.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Seagrapes, the open-air restaurant flanking the main pool, impressed with a bright shrimp ceviche and a crave-worthy smashburger dressed in Rosado’s take on Mayochup, the island’s beloved condiment.—
Amber Kallor,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Van Sant was impressed by Elwes’s preparation and physical transformation, with his shaggy hair and bushy beard.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swayed. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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