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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Grips the microphone, sways her hips.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
What to Expect From ‘Reminders of Him’ The film barely sways from the book, which has sold more than 6 million copies, a decision Caswill says was intentional after reading the screenplay by Lauren Levine and Hoover.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 11 Mar. 2026
Williams turns his ear for propulsive and bombastic melodies onto traditional Japanese instrumentation, creating a work that sways between gentle, meditative themes for the titular geisha (Ziyi) and heart-pounding selections to fill out her chaotic, tragic life.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
In addition, the NFL argued that the NFLPA refused to share important information about its survey, including methodology such as whether the data is weighted or averaged, and how qualitative feedback sways results.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Look for a silhouette that has a little movement, like this wide-leg pair, for a cropped hemline that sways above loafers, sneakers, and ballet flats.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
Sunday's vote was seen as a key test of whether the EU member nation stays on its liberal course or sways toward the right.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Grips the microphone, sways her hips.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
What to Expect From ‘Reminders of Him’ The film barely sways from the book, which has sold more than 6 million copies, a decision Caswill says was intentional after reading the screenplay by Lauren Levine and Hoover.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 11 Mar. 2026
Williams turns his ear for propulsive and bombastic melodies onto traditional Japanese instrumentation, creating a work that sways between gentle, meditative themes for the titular geisha (Ziyi) and heart-pounding selections to fill out her chaotic, tragic life.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
In addition, the NFL argued that the NFLPA refused to share important information about its survey, including methodology such as whether the data is weighted or averaged, and how qualitative feedback sways results.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Look for a silhouette that has a little movement, like this wide-leg pair, for a cropped hemline that sways above loafers, sneakers, and ballet flats.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
-
And Spandrel’s tower isn’t the only building seeing the effects of low vacancy rates.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In 2025, Polis directed OEDIT and state agencies to analyze the effects of tariffs across key industries, finding widespread cost increases, planning challenges, and market disruptions for Colorado businesses.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By accounting for how the rotating plasma core influences flows at the edge of the magnetic field, scientists can now predict exhaust behavior with more accuracy.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Country music has long evolved by absorbing new influences.—
Amelia Edelman,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was no overarching policy, no time limits for its use in the classroom, and the safety controls were leaky.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Throughput increases, operational strain decreases, and the environment begins to function as an integrated system rather than a patchwork of manual controls.—
Alex Israel,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Avoid Transplant Shock Transplanting a hydrangea at the wrong time of year stresses the plant and affects the next bloom.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In 2010, the Hamden mother was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs and lymph nodes.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Wembanyama is on the short list of MVP favorites as the league lurches toward the playoffs, a list that includes former NBA champions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC, Denver’s Nikola Jokic along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
After a moment of hesitation, Harington lurches forward and plants a passionate kiss on Turner, who responds in kind.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Swalwell challenged the early-stage inquiry into his mortgage in part by citing the Privacy Act, which governs the release of identifying documents within the government and generally prevents their release without a person’s consent.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The committee also planned to scrutinize whether the DOJ has complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which governs the review and release of records related to the case.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But unlike most of the country, real estate agents in the Bay Area aren't fully feeling the impacts.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The nearly six-week-long war in Iran may be occurring thousands of miles away from NATO headquarters, but its impacts are reverberating throughout Europe in the form of ballooning fuel prices and the risk of energy shortages.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond extending flight time, the shift to hydrogen leverages the laws of physics to improve drone reliability.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
OneTeam Partners negotiates media deals and leverages players’ name, image and licensing rights.—
David Carrillo Peñaloza,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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