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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Recent Examples of swayed
Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026
Trump condemned Roberts and the five other justices who ruled against him on tariffs and made an unsubstantiated claim that the court was swayed by foreign interests.
—Andrew Chung, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But like other recent debates, political experts are dubious as to whether anyone was swayed.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Miriam swayed, shoulders shaking with laughter at a joke nobody else could hear.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The 28-year-old Nakatani, a southpaw, used his longer reach to keep Inoue’s punches at bay, while Inoue simply swayed his body or got out of the way.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
One key problem with California’s direct democracy is that voters are easily swayed by broad promises, but then lose interest in real-world outcomes.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Meridian City Council approved annexing 70 acres of farmland for a major residential and commercial development despite vague plans, with members swayed by concerns that a Star-area sewer district could otherwise serve the territory.
—Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Researchers also used a tool to measure how much participants swayed when standing naturally, as well as with their feet together.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
As fans stood for the opening run, a sprawling 23-piece backing ensemble — including six band members, eight backing vocalists plus returning Church muse Joanna Cotten, and a mini-orchestra with four horns and four strings — some swayed.
—Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Ultimately, the bond market is sending a message about the economy, and it isn’t swayed by trendy narratives, Malek said.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026
Trump condemned Roberts and the five other justices who ruled against him on tariffs and made an unsubstantiated claim that the court was swayed by foreign interests.
—Andrew Chung, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But like other recent debates, political experts are dubious as to whether anyone was swayed.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Miriam swayed, shoulders shaking with laughter at a joke nobody else could hear.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The 28-year-old Nakatani, a southpaw, used his longer reach to keep Inoue’s punches at bay, while Inoue simply swayed his body or got out of the way.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
One key problem with California’s direct democracy is that voters are easily swayed by broad promises, but then lose interest in real-world outcomes.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Meridian City Council approved annexing 70 acres of farmland for a major residential and commercial development despite vague plans, with members swayed by concerns that a Star-area sewer district could otherwise serve the territory.
—Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Researchers also used a tool to measure how much participants swayed when standing naturally, as well as with their feet together.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swayed
Verb
-
The helmet logo, a chief, was influenced by Blackfeet Nation imagery, and team leadership consulted with the Blackfeet tribal chairman during its design.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Come Wednesday, the high pressure that is building is expected to slide away, influenced by yet another trough that’s expected to cool temperatures about 20 degrees from their Monday highs, according to the weather service.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Each assault count corresponds to a moment Mendoza Hernandez’s car lurched forward, about seven seconds apart.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
-
France lurched from republic to dictatorship to empire before cycling back through absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, Second Republic, and Second Empire.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
After a federal judge ruled for the Justice Department, the merger was abandoned.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Referee Kelly Sutherland immediately ruled it a legal goal and motioned to say Hunt pushed the Avs captain into his own goalie.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
This has most painfully affected public-school teachers.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Although much smaller than the one in Broward, the South Miami-Dade fire affected traffic going in and out of the Keys on Sunday, with officials closing Card Sound Road, one of the two arteries accessing the island chain from Sunday evening into early Monday morning.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Haitian immigrants became eligible after an earthquake rocked the country in 2010.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Zack Bolduc and Cole Caufield, on the power play, had spotted Montreal a 2-0 lead as the Bell Centre absolutely rocked again in the anticipation and hope that perhaps their team might take a 3-1 lead over the favoured Lightning.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Products governed by a trade deal with Canada and Mexico also were excluded.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Homeowners associations must adopt hurricane protection specifications for every parcel governed by the association, and these typically include the color and style for products that comply with the applicable building code.—
Nicole R. Kurtz,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lesch became convinced the Middle East would be central to world affairs for decades to come.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Associate Professor Nigel Beebe of the University of Queensland’s School of the Environment isn’t convinced.—
Ryan Brennan
May 1,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
His success in leading the restructuring greatly impressed his boss.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
And the kids will be impressed by the four-foot-tall, 2,200-gallon koi fish tank in the resort’s lobby.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swayed. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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