1
as in effects
the power to bring about a result on another
under the sway of euphoria, she offered to take us all out to dinner in celebration of her new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in influences
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others
a time when Rome held sway over a vast empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in affects
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 lurches
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 governs
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
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Recent Examples of sways
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Yet, across the water, a seemingly impenetrable wall of the invasive plants sways in the wind, several feet tall.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The camera sways and various items around the room fall over.
—Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
The feeling of walking up to your property, putting the keys in the door but then the door just sways open.
—David Crown, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
There’s a canopy of old-growth oaks that sways amid strings of glowing baubles and glittering fleurs-de-lis.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
The museum gets off with a bang by taking guests on a simulated trip to space in a high-tech elevator lined with pin-sharp ultra-HD screens and a floor which gently sways to simulate zero gravity.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Yet, across the water, a seemingly impenetrable wall of the invasive plants sways in the wind, several feet tall.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The camera sways and various items around the room fall over.
—Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
The feeling of walking up to your property, putting the keys in the door but then the door just sways open.
—David Crown, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
There’s a canopy of old-growth oaks that sways amid strings of glowing baubles and glittering fleurs-de-lis.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
-
It’s not fully fleshed out, but a parallel could be made to the effects of anxiety and trauma, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms that accompany them.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Research on its gut health effects is mixed.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This roster runs particularly deep, from the boogie-woogie blues (Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters) to the bar rock scene (Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy) and the extensive hip-hop multiverse (where both gospel and drill influences abound).—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Goodman’s novel is a tribute to her influences, and a crackling joy to read.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Interior trims range from basic to luxurious, but all feature easy to use controls, physical switches and dials for key functions and one of the auto industry’s best touch screens and infotainment systems.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Tightening them further, and de-linking cost controls from revenue, just might.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Diabetes is a common condition that affects about 38 million people in the United States, and nearly 95% of those diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Kate is a patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, while William serves as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, which governs the game in Wales.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
From Silicon Valley to Ely and East Last Vegas, our communities have seen the impacts of decades of cuts to public education.—
Erica Mosca,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Finally, Hunter-Cooper published a 2023 study which found that hot yoga sessions lower blood pressure and reduce the negative impacts of a high sodium diet among participants.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Discovery over notification leverages comprehensive analytics to actively identify anomalies rather than waiting for user reports.—
Akhilesh Tripathi,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
FashFind leverages computer vision paired with machine learning algorithms to identify the unique attributes submitted products have—whether that’s color, fabric type, patterns, silhouette, length or otherwise.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Roald Dahl's beloved 1988 novel about a young girl named Matilda with telekinetic powers has gotten its fair share of adaptations over the years.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Witnessing the rise of the internet, cellphones and social media as a teenager, Acutis harnessed these new powers of communication and coded a website to catalogue and promote eucharistic miracles.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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