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?"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ruled
archaic
to exercise authority or power over
an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in influenced
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 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
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Because, in fact, I am usually immediately swayed by whatever intellectual fashion is in the air, and a first draft of any essay is more often than not a cynical and dutiful rehashing of the argument du jour.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Her experience with early higher education, however, swayed her in a different direction.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
Epstein’s victims also were not swayed by Patel’s testimony.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Fincher wasn't swayed by Flynn's desire to have Witherspoon star, either.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Yet, while Meisner felt the issue was settled and pediatricians were well-equipped to calm parents' fears about febrile seizures, the other members could not be swayed.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The Times and a book publisher also named in the suit, Penguin Random House, both said the suit lacked merit and vowed not to be swayed by the presidential pressure.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
But Shurin wasn’t swayed by those arguments.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Adjective
In the second video, Cabello can be seen singing as Murray and her dad swayed together on the dance floor.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Because, in fact, I am usually immediately swayed by whatever intellectual fashion is in the air, and a first draft of any essay is more often than not a cynical and dutiful rehashing of the argument du jour.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Her experience with early higher education, however, swayed her in a different direction.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
Epstein’s victims also were not swayed by Patel’s testimony.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Fincher wasn't swayed by Flynn's desire to have Witherspoon star, either.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Yet, while Meisner felt the issue was settled and pediatricians were well-equipped to calm parents' fears about febrile seizures, the other members could not be swayed.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The Times and a book publisher also named in the suit, Penguin Random House, both said the suit lacked merit and vowed not to be swayed by the presidential pressure.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
But Shurin wasn’t swayed by those arguments.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swayed
Verb
-
Gen Zers' social media- and internet-influenced subculture is changing language faster than their elders can keep up.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Songs were influenced by improvisational and bebop jazz, as well as gospel.—
Jenny Adams,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The escalator lurched to a halt just after the pair got on.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In June, a three-judge panel had ruled unanimously that teaching yoga is protected speech and that city officials had failed to show how the classes threaten public safety or prevent enjoyment of the city’s shoreline parks, overturning a lower court’s ruling.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Related Stories Then, just days later, during Greenberg’s funeral, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the case a homicide.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Department of Neighborhood Services condemnation team can help affected residents navigate the process and give advice on finding contractors.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to the number of unique titles affected, PEN tracks the number of challenges each year.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At least two people died and dozens were arrested in Morocco, the latest site of Gen Z protests that have rocked countries worldwide.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Google has been racing to find ways to integrate generative AI into its search engine since OpenAI rocked the tech sector with the launch of its chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Capital cases like Brown’s are governed by a unique body of law.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Or at least have the option of several lives other than their own not being governed by the vagaries of the football industry?—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the 13-episode epic, Our Blues’ Kim Woo-bin stars as Iblis, a Satanic genie who is utterly convinced of humanity’s inherent greed.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Wednesday night, the coach sounded even more convinced.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That had to be something that impressed you a little bit.—
Sid Evans,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
What has impressed everyone at St James’ Park is that Woltemade carries it so lightly; to him, Bayern’s sniping is just froth.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swayed. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share