Synonyms of sways

sways 1 of 2

noun

plural of sway

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

• effects
• influences
• impacts
• repercussions
• consequences
• pulls
• marks
• weights
• clouts
• significances
• authorities
• dominions
• prestiges
• commands
• importances
• dominations
• supremacies
• sovereignties
• masteries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaknesses
• impotences
• impotencies

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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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

• influences
• leverages
• pulls
• weights
• credits
• authorities
• ins
• hefts
• juices
• clouts
• importances
• impresses
• impacts
• reigns
• moments
• impressions
• consequences
• dominances
• counterinfluences
• commands
• scepters
• dominions
• sovereignties
• eminences
• predominances
• supremacies
• imprints
• marks
• masteries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaknesses
• impotences
• impotencies

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

• controls
• powers
• dominions
• reigns
• reins
• grips
• arms
• clutches
• influences
• holds
• authorities
• commands
• pulls
• death grips
• jurisdictions
• sovereignties
• voices
• privileges
• dominances
• leverages
• weights
• masteries
• managements
• directions
• clouts
• rights
• prerogatives
• supremacies
• predominances
• moments
• imperiums
• eminences
• importances

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impotences
• weaknesses
• impotencies

sways

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sway

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

• influences
• affects
• impresses
• impacts
• touches
• strikes
• reaches
• inspires
• moves
• involves
• interests
• tells (on)
• bothers
• attracts
• disturbs
• dazzles
• gets to
• fascinates
• penetrates
• stirs
• engages
• concerns
• worries
• biases
• perturbs
• transports
• pierces
• enraptures
• troubles
• tries
• enthralls
• harasses
• enchants
• colors
• carries away
• entrances
• ravishes
• captivates
• afflicts
• smites
• upsets
• plagues
• agitates
• stresses
• distresses
• wrings
• disquiets
• flusters
• charms
• pesters
• allures
• bewitches
• harries
• discomposes
• discomforts
• strains

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wearies
• bores
• palls
• tires
• jades
• underwhelms

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

• lurches
• rocks
• shakes
• tosses
• vibrates
• wobbles
• halts
• rolls
• careens
• jerks
• seesaws
• tumbles
• falters
• vacillates
• wavers
• staggers
• weaves
• totters
• waddles
• undulates
• oscillates
• hobbles
• stumbles
• teeters
• flounders
• toddles
• jolts
• pitches
• waggles
• reels
• hitches
• bucks
• blunders
• dodders
• wags

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

• governs
• rules
• dominates
• controls
• dictates
• manages
• commands
• leads
• domineers
• administers
• oversees
• bosses
• regulates
• directs
• presides (over)
• conducts
• captains
• supervises
• oppresses
• heads
• conquers
• masters
• micromanages
• reigns (over)
• tyrannizes
• subjugates
• superintends
• subdues
• lords (it over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sways

Verb

The set moves in and out, another set rolls over, and another is on a gimbal that sways as the whale moves. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

But forcing heavy steel trains onto a floating highway that rolls, sways, and shifts with the tides was widely considered an invitation to disaster. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

One combat sequence at the end is genuinely excellent because the film puts actual creative effort into staging a knife-versus-ax duel on a gangplank that sways back and forth over the water. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

The main road home is closed, so players must detour through a wild valley full of hills, rivers and angry wildlife, while the janky physics turn every bump into potential disaster as the RV sways, tips and flips with ease. — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026

As the water sways and the flowers blow, 120 wooden crosses now line the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 30 June 2026

In its dynamic equilibrium, our system sways like a grand old tree in the wind. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Republican political consultants are skeptical that Paxton’s place on the ballot sways the needle for Democrats. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026

Now the castle is in ruins (though with explanatory signage), with hiking paths, a museum, and a 1,200-foot pedestrian suspension bridge that sways 300 feet above the valley floor. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026