as in lilting
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1
as in affecting
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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2
as in lurching
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 governing
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 swaying
Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That’s why, in Wicked onstage, there is a giant dragon above the proscenium that activates at the very beginning of the show, roaring and swaying.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
With Crow leading the verses, the other artists wrapped their arms around each other, swaying and singing.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2025
Another key feature of the new design is its 3-degree-of-freedom waist, which allows the robot to perform human-like movements such as bending, twisting, and side-swaying with precision.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Riccardo’s performance encapsulates that frustration and jubilation, carrying the film on his charming, swaying shoulders.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Could her body handle the hip-swaying, leg-kicking, and straight-up flying through the air?
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 30 Sep. 2025
Bean's performance, complete with a gospel choir, got the whole room on its feet, clapping, swaying, singing and cheering.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet somehow, in a medium of heavy copper, Fischl captures the lithe, swaying, physical vitality of Ashe, as well as the high-mindedness of the man who was so committed to social causes.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Picture the golden glow of Black-eyed Susans and the architectural elegance of native grasses swaying in the prairie breeze.
—Rosehill Gardens, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Imagine swaying to Latin rhythms, a taco in one hand, your partner’s hand in the other.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The budding photographer started bringing a camera with him on his underwater adventures to document his dives, with imagery posted on social media sharing sea species such as leopard sharks and swaying kelp forests that dance with the ebb of the ocean.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Couples of all ages gravitate to the dance floor, stepping, spinning, and swaying with varying degrees of confidence.
—Phil Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Even the hotel’s pickleball courts are a high-design sight to see, with courts drenched in pink and blue and flanked by swaying palms.
—Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Behind him, the procession slowly comes to rest, their candles swaying in the night air.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
—CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
As the sun set below blush clouds, the gently swaying crowd matched the R&B singer’s sultry energy.
—Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
Everyone sat down around a fire pit, except for Land, who stood, face lit from below, gesturing and swaying.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That’s why, in Wicked onstage, there is a giant dragon above the proscenium that activates at the very beginning of the show, roaring and swaying.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
With Crow leading the verses, the other artists wrapped their arms around each other, swaying and singing.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2025
Another key feature of the new design is its 3-degree-of-freedom waist, which allows the robot to perform human-like movements such as bending, twisting, and side-swaying with precision.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Riccardo’s performance encapsulates that frustration and jubilation, carrying the film on his charming, swaying shoulders.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Could her body handle the hip-swaying, leg-kicking, and straight-up flying through the air?
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 30 Sep. 2025
Bean's performance, complete with a gospel choir, got the whole room on its feet, clapping, swaying, singing and cheering.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet somehow, in a medium of heavy copper, Fischl captures the lithe, swaying, physical vitality of Ashe, as well as the high-mindedness of the man who was so committed to social causes.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
Visualization is a huge part of racing, particularly in the speed disciplines of downhill and super-G, and a lot of competitors close their eyes and run the course on a loop in their minds, dipping and swaying with every turn, roller and jump.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Picture the golden glow of Black-eyed Susans and the architectural elegance of native grasses swaying in the prairie breeze.
—Rosehill Gardens, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Imagine swaying to Latin rhythms, a taco in one hand, your partner’s hand in the other.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The budding photographer started bringing a camera with him on his underwater adventures to document his dives, with imagery posted on social media sharing sea species such as leopard sharks and swaying kelp forests that dance with the ebb of the ocean.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Couples of all ages gravitate to the dance floor, stepping, spinning, and swaying with varying degrees of confidence.
—Phil Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Even the hotel’s pickleball courts are a high-design sight to see, with courts drenched in pink and blue and flanked by swaying palms.
—Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Behind him, the procession slowly comes to rest, their candles swaying in the night air.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
—CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
The track is one of the shortest on the EP but the most concise, composed simply of guitar, strings, Tems’ lilting falsetto, and sparse backing vocals.—
Nelson C.J,
Rolling Stone,
21 Nov. 2025
-
The second violins introduce the second movement with a soft, lilting quality, creating music that’s elegant and musically complex.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
We are faced with a next generation of AI-enabled influencing that is readily undertaken on a massive scale.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Careers involving children, healing, cooking, interior design, real estate, food content, wellness, and lifestyle influencing thrive.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Oxford Economics economist Nico Palesch warned that advances in robotics could soon also disrupt physical jobs, potentially affecting up to 20% of the workforce.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
McChrystal says the separations are a mistake and are affecting mission readiness -- one of the very values that Hegseth claims as a priority for his Department of War, amid several simmering global conflicts.—
Lauren Hodges,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sure enough, a big rock upended from beneath my toe and sent me lurching headlong to the water.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then the governing federations for each individual Olympic sport would need to vote to end their bans.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Fidesz has not released a program, arguing that after governing for 16 years, its voters know what kinds of policies to expect.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Williams won his first of five Oscars for Fiddler on the Roof, seamlessly tailoring the Broadway musical's score to the big screen.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
-
And Gamson’s college buddy Fred Maher, a drummer for Lou Reed, Richard Hell, and the avant-funk band Material, who, like Gartside, saw how the new electronic pop was surpassing the musical adventurousness of his old post-punk comfort zone.—
Andy Cush,
Pitchfork,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2016, Arnold went to rehab for alcohol addiction, at the prompting of country singer Charlie Daniels.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The skill of the future is real-time prompting, including excelling at steering an AI’s output during a live brainstorm.—
David Henkin,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There, the former Dodgers star again grunted (and cursed) loudly a few times while impressing onlookers with his command and movement.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
In 1964 Nagasaki, 14-year-old Kikuo (Soya Kurokawa) performs at a New Year’s event, impressing Hanjiro (Ken Watanabe), a beloved kabuki legend.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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