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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Bamboo basket boats swirl through the Bay Mau nipa palm forest—their skippers casting nets in the shade of swaying fronds.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The stabilizing device featured a 400-ton concrete block on a film of oil that would slide in the opposite direction to the building’s motion to counteract swaying.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Fallon then cut to a clip of Butler’s mini swaying moment, which went viral shortly after the concert.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
Some people kept watching and swaying and moving.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
From swaying trims to plush bags and scarves, warmth and whimsy can be found with Dries Van Noten’s pumps, Gucci’s tote bag, and Cos’s woolly hat.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Two friends wrapped their arms around each other next to me, swaying in an embrace.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Deborah Lavioletta, a lifelong Detroiter and 73-year-old pharmaceutical representative, was seated on a media podium, swaying to the music behind two younger women dancing enthusiastically at a cocktail table.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Quarterback Mahomes was seen standing mostly still, swaying a bit with his hands behind his back during the anthem.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2023, House Republicans held hearings on the companies' roles in swaying votes around environmental, social and governance investing.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Think endless beaches, warm breezes, swaying palm trees, and sunny skies.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
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
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
Bamboo basket boats swirl through the Bay Mau nipa palm forest—their skippers casting nets in the shade of swaying fronds.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The stabilizing device featured a 400-ton concrete block on a film of oil that would slide in the opposite direction to the building’s motion to counteract swaying.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Fallon then cut to a clip of Butler’s mini swaying moment, which went viral shortly after the concert.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
And some people kept watching and swaying and moving.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
Some people kept watching and swaying and moving.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
From swaying trims to plush bags and scarves, warmth and whimsy can be found with Dries Van Noten’s pumps, Gucci’s tote bag, and Cos’s woolly hat.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Two friends wrapped their arms around each other next to me, swaying in an embrace.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Deborah Lavioletta, a lifelong Detroiter and 73-year-old pharmaceutical representative, was seated on a media podium, swaying to the music behind two younger women dancing enthusiastically at a cocktail table.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Quarterback Mahomes was seen standing mostly still, swaying a bit with his hands behind his back during the anthem.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2023, House Republicans held hearings on the companies' roles in swaying votes around environmental, social and governance investing.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Think endless beaches, warm breezes, swaying palm trees, and sunny skies.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
The trailer, soundtracked by a lilting piano melody, reveals the basic premise of the film, which focuses on a young boy named Arco from a distant and peaceful future, where humans live in the sky and use rainbow suits to fly through the air.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
-
This week, Megan Moroney offers up valuable wisdom enveloped in a lilting ballad, while Maddie Lenhart sings of longing for a carefree night of throwing romantic caution to the wind.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
My message was to stand up against this type of behavior and the danger of what influencing can mean on social media.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Negotiation and influencing skills are critical capabilities that the candidates can highlight as a testament to their ability to navigate the organizational dynamics, maneuver tricky situations and secure buy-in from detractors, if any.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This move highlights vulnerabilities in the technology supply chain, affecting automakers like Honda, which halted production at a Mexican factory.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Another key finding of the study was that nearly all populations reached record levels of homelessness, affecting families with children, individuals, people staying in unsheltered or sheltered locations, and unaccompanied youth.—
Sophia Arndt,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Back then, Newcastle’s thin squad staggered between results, lurching from challenging the best sides in the league to befuddling losses to inferior squads.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The election is over; governing begins.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Non-residency, delinquency, or even unresolved governing document violations are not reasons to deny any owner a ballot.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Highlights will include musical performances by the La Jolla High School Viking Band and flyovers by the San Diego Salute Formation Team.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Headlining musical acts include Nickelback, Kid Rock, and Jason Aldean.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
James competed on American Idol season 18 in 2020, originally under the name Sophia Wackerman before changing her surname at the prompting of the judges.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Extracting valuable hypotheses requires careful prompting, iterative feedback, and a willingness to engage in a kind of dialogue with the AI, notes Swanson.—
Elie Dolgin,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The defender has only been with Scunthorpe since early September, joining them on non-contract terms after impressing during pre-season.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Four days into the production's run at London's Savoy Theatre, the musical is impressing audiences and fans getting their first glimpse at the iconic bear on the internet.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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