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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
Mike Defabo, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
From leathery leaves to porcupine-like seedheads to foliage that sways gracefully, perennials offer all kinds of engaging winter interest.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
Winter’s vocal presence imagines a fearless indie oddball like Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus going for the full prattling gusto of the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger; the band tussles and sways exhilaratingly underfoot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With Normani twerking up on the fence, Chiles moved center stage with professional dancing partner Ezra Sosa for a final round of dips, sways and high leaps that helped earn the tumbler third place in this year’s competition.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Now, in case of an earthquake, the whole 100-year-old station simply sways gently on these bearings.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025
Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
That sways decisions from time-to-time.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
From leathery leaves to porcupine-like seedheads to foliage that sways gracefully, perennials offer all kinds of engaging winter interest.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
Winter’s vocal presence imagines a fearless indie oddball like Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus going for the full prattling gusto of the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger; the band tussles and sways exhilaratingly underfoot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With Normani twerking up on the fence, Chiles moved center stage with professional dancing partner Ezra Sosa for a final round of dips, sways and high leaps that helped earn the tumbler third place in this year’s competition.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Now, in case of an earthquake, the whole 100-year-old station simply sways gently on these bearings.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025
Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
-
The rapid rise of AI technology has had negative effects on the climate and humanity, albeit indirectly.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Eventually, of course, ICE will go elsewhere, but as after a rape, the effects of their occupation will not end with ICE’s departure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Designed by the celebrated firm Schultze and Weaver—hotel architects behind New York’s Waldorf Astoria and a collection of landmark Biltmore and luxury properties—the structure rises in Mediterranean Revival splendor, blending Spanish, Moorish, and Italian influences across 150 lush acres.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Wladyka, who has a mixed Japanese-Polish background and has spent considerable time directing in Latin America, gracefully navigates some of the film’s cross-cultural specifics, which also result in an earwormy soundtrack drawn from Japanese and Latin influences.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Unusually at this relatively affordable price point, the NODE 100 has a fully customizable touch bar and keys that can be programmed with macros, media controls or application shortcuts for software like Adobe Photoshop or web browser.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
White then took the controls of Boston’s offense, even in another subpar shooting night.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Proving this will require experiments that directly test how the rhythm affects brain cleaning, vigilance, and survival.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The recall affects the company’s model year 2024-2025 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid line of trucks.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Three seconds later, the Honda crashes into a parked car with such force its tires fly off the street, the pile of cars lurches forward several feet and snow billows.—
Claire Galofaro,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The paranoia that now governs American life echoes the paranoid logic of the domestic thriller.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Across the country, a patchwork system governs requirements for strippers.—
Barbara Hoberock,
Oklahoman,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Investors are watching specific themes, including state-run companies, defense, roads and railways, and brokerages and exchanges, for potential impacts from the budget.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Witnessing deaths may be especially traumatic Research has shown that mental health impacts are even more profound when someone's unexpected death is witnessed and shared.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
OneTeam Partners negotiates media deals and leverages players’ name, image and licensing rights.—
David Carrillo Peñaloza,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Vance Joseph’s defense in Denver is often predicated on playing certain leverages within man coverage.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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