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

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

While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 23 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

Tuesday night’s elections further showed the swaying power that Latinx voters can have. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

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

The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Venezuela residents reeling from quakes During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings. — Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026