Synonyms of swaying

swaying 1 of 3

adjective

as in lilting

Related Words

• lilting
• musical
• uniform
• rhythmic
• steady
• even
• metronomic
• metrical
• regular
• cadenced
• measured
• cadent

Dissimilar Words

• unmeasured
• arrhythmic
• nonmetrical
• unrhythmic

swaying

2 of 3

noun

as in influencing

Related Words

• influencing
• prompting
• seduction
• lobbying
• tempting
• coaxing
• wheedling
• pressuring
• entreaty
• exhortation
• cajolery
• persuading
• blandishment
• convincing
• inducing
• brainwashing
• inducement
• cajolement
• conversion
• urging
• suasion
• overpersuasion
• persuasion

swaying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sway

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?"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• influencing
• affecting
• impressing
• impacting
• touching
• striking
• reaching
• moving
• interesting
• inspiring
• telling (on)
• involving
• bothering
• getting to
• attracting
• fascinating
• disturbing
• stirring
• dazzling
• concerning
• penetrating
• ravishing
• worrying
• biasing
• transporting
• carrying away
• entrancing
• enchanting
• engaging
• troubling
• harassing
• plaguing
• trying
• upsetting
• distressing
• stressing
• enrapturing
• perturbing
• captivating
• piercing
• disquieting
• afflicting
• charming
• agitating
• enthralling
• smiting
• coloring
• pestering
• bewitching
• flustering
• alluring
• wringing
• discomforting
• straining
• harrying
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tiring
• boring
• wearying
• palling
• jading
• underwhelming

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lurching
• rocking
• shaking
• rolling
• jerking
• tossing
• wobbling
• vibrating
• halting
• careening
• tumbling
• seesawing
• faltering
• wavering
• weaving
• vacillating
• tottering
• pitching
• staggering
• stumbling
• reeling
• waddling
• hobbling
• floundering
• oscillating
• jolting
• bucking
• blundering
• undulating
• teetering
• hitching
• toddling
• wagging
• waggling
• doddering

3

as in governing

archaic to exercise authority or power over

an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• governing
• ruling
• controlling
• dominating
• commanding
• dictating
• managing
• domineering
• presiding (over)
• leading
• administering
• overseeing
• captaining
• bossing
• regulating
• conducting
• supervising
• heading
• directing
• oppressing
• mastering
• conquering
• superintending
• reigning (over)
• subduing
• micromanaging
• subjugating
• tyrannizing
• lording (it over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swaying

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

Jordyn was admitted without delay, and before receiving her epidural, Haley and Kelsy stayed close, offering steady support through hip pressure, gentle swaying and laughter. — Christina Cardona, USA Today, 15 July 2026

During those exercises, the arresting officer wrote that Zenk showed multiple signs of impairment, including balance issues, swaying and difficulty following instructions. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Residents described evacuating swaying buildings and seeing entire walls collapse. — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 25 June 2026

People evacuated swaying buildings and homes in the capital, Caracas. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

Naturally, all eyes were on Swift for much of the night, and the unapologetic fan of popular music did not disappoint — singing along, cheering, swaying, even holding on to her guy for brief moments. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026

No, in these cases, there wasn’t any successful swaying of opinion. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 1 June 2026

There’s an ever present sense of the air moving, seen in the grass swaying and the smoke drifting. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026

Chisora would react by dipping and swaying. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026

Verb

Fans bond by singing the same words, tunes, and rhythms together, swaying, waving or pumping fists in unison. — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 2026

Heads start nodding, bodies begin swaying, strangers lock into the same cadence, the same emotional vibes. — Bija Bennett, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

In the weeks before the finale, viewers across social media platforms spun conspiracy theories, convinced that people with inside knowledge had been betting every step of the way, and potentially swaying the vote to ensure a bigger payout. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Kansas Citians soaked up the sun on Friday night, swing dancing, swaying and bopping along to Sheryl Crow on the FIFA Fan Fest stage. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026

By the time England beat Mexico in Mexico City, the team was prepared, swaying shoulder-to-shoulder and joining in the singalong. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 July 2026

Expect to see neighbors of all ages swaying to yacht rock, belting along with John Denver and Fleetwood Mac cover bands, or dancing to beach tunes from the Band of Oz. — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026

First, to Lu Leccisu, which was all golden summer grasses, swaying in a stink that blew in from the waters of the nearby sewage treatment plant. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026

The coffin was unveiled late on Thursday to a throng of sobbing supporters, who were swaying and beating their heads in time to a sung lament as flowers were thrown from the bier into the crowd. — Reuters, USA Today, 4 July 2026