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

The new Chandelier sandal, characterized by its serpent-spiral shape, is hand embroidered with more than 170 swaying drop beads made from multifaceted or transparent crystals. — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

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

Verb

The observer at the edge of the dance-floor, secretly swaying with the rhythm. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

The surf was raging, completely enveloping the craft with only the swaying masts visible in the blackness of the night. — CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

For more than three decades, his romantic ballads and hits have provided the soundtrack for couples swaying cheek-to-cheek to the sensual gouyad of konpa rhythms. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 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