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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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?"
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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
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
That Apple’s Podcasts apps supports transcripts is a shining example of a situation where a single feature sways the vote over whether to use a certain piece of software.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
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
That Apple’s Podcasts apps supports transcripts is a shining example of a situation where a single feature sways the vote over whether to use a certain piece of software.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Verb
-
Prince William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, which governs the game in Wales, while Princess Kate supports Rugby Football Union, its counterpart in England.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Princess Kate, 43, is patron of the Rugby Football Union which governs the game in England, while Prince William, 42, is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Looking around the restaurant patio at the Chateau Marmont, populated by folks famous and fame-adjacent, some whispering, others talking at a volume that seems less an invitation than a demand to eavesdrop, the filmmaker shakes his head and smiles.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2024
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Dexter has a panicked, sickened feeling after seeing his first dead kid, and the whole experience shakes him to his core.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Tate McRae dominates this frame, claiming four of the six debuts.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Daylight Saving Time is now catapulted to the front of the news, and dominates discussion both online and offline two times every year.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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