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swaying 1 of 3

adjective

as in lilting

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swaying

2 of 3

noun

as in influencing

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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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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 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
Gerber was just 18 at the time, and appeared in the cover swaying and singing with Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 To me, what emerges from this swaying feels more natural than simply forging ahead with a predetermined, easily understood logic. — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 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
Verb
Ahead, the sandwich-board balloon, swaying in the wind, said, This way, this way. — Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026 This prevents specialists from swaying recommendations based on conflicts of interest. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026 The Daisy Chain crowd could be seen holding up their lights and swaying to the music. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Everyone seemingly watches them — and a little tennis — with a $23 Honey Deuce in one hand, swaying to DJ Trizz’s mixes on the sound system. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Even the unofficial mayor of the city, filmmaker Sterlin Harjo, is swaying in the corner. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 Each accommodation includes a private balcony or terrace, creating a quiet connection to Pacific views, swaying palms, and the natural rhythm of Punta de Mita. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2026 Styled after a tropical paradise with swaying palm trees, Lost Island Waterpark offers endless aquatic fun during its summertime opening season, with slides, rides, and attractions. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026 After a few hours under the hot sun, there was no better cool down than swaying to Babyface classics. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 22, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
  1. lilting
  2. influencing
  3. affecting
  4. lurching
  5. governing
  6. musical
  7. prompting
  8. impressing
Adjective
  • For edible souvenirs, don’t miss Carosello Pasta, a specialty grocer and pastificio (Italy’s lilting word for pasta factory) that sources Midwest grains to craft pasta of every shape and shade.
    — Stacey Brugeman, Midwest Living, 27 Aug. 2026
  • La Vierge de Fer contrasts the delicate fruit and a lily note with the screech of cold metal, sparkling aldehydes, and lilting sandalwood.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lilting
Noun
  • Suleiman Sami’s business, S Sami Services LLC, provides transportation services, event ticket sales and social media influencing.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When students graduate, they'll be prepared for roles in content strategy, digital influencing, brand development, social media management and audience engagement across industries.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of influencing
Verb
  • Although consumers do not pay that rate directly, changes to the federal funds rate ripple through the economy, affecting many borrowing and savings rates.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The researchers learned that parents were concerned by low-flying helicopter noise disrupting their children’s sleep and affecting their brain health.
    — Caroline Montojo, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of affecting
Verb
  • There followed an uncomfortable, lurching ride in a rickety old coach.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lurching
Verb
  • That imbalance, if exploited with sufficient force, would produce concessions on trade flows, investment, and the rules governing global competition.
    — JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
  • At his rally in Athens on Sunday, the Democrat called for inspectors inside leading AI labs and an international agreement governing the technology.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of governing
Adjective
  • How the band’s approach to recording has matured, and why Fairchild now cares more about emotion and connection than musical perfection.
    — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The daughter of music legend Johnny Cash and his first wife Vivian Liberto, Cash and her longtime musical collaborator and husband John Leventhal hit the road in August for a tour that kicked off in New York.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of musical
Noun
  • Bell told me about an instance when a friend stayed over, cleaned out her garbage disposal, and ordered her new sponges, all without any prompting.
    — Brooke Knappenberger, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
  • An agentic system pursues a goal across multiple steps—retrieving data, calling APIs, applying business rules, making decisions and handing off exceptions—with limited human prompting along the way.
    — Tammy Hawes, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of prompting
Verb
  • Rushworth grew tired of waiting for a chance to disrupt the domination of Verbruggen and Steele in the No 1 and No 2 spots after a series of loans which culminated in him impressing at Coventry in the Championship last season.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Granite Bay’s Isaiah Ene earns keep A four-year varsity starter at Granite Bay High in Placer County, Isaiah Ene earned his playing time in the opener after impressing coaches at running back in fall camp.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of impressing

Browse Nearby Words

swayed
swaying
sways
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Cite this Entry

“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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