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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
The final shot sees Tom gazing out the window as a curtain gently sways in the warm breeze.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of baskets holding young oysters called spat are strung along a line that floats on the surface and sways like a long black snake in the water.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
One call sways the difference of the game.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Hayley then flashes a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
As such, wardrobe styling and other modes of non-verbal communication — from raising an eyebrow or throwing a cutting look to the way one lights a cigarette or sways to a disco beat — were particularly key to creating character.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
The final shot sees Tom gazing out the window as a curtain gently sways in the warm breeze.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of baskets holding young oysters called spat are strung along a line that floats on the surface and sways like a long black snake in the water.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
One call sways the difference of the game.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Hayley then flashes a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
As such, wardrobe styling and other modes of non-verbal communication — from raising an eyebrow or throwing a cutting look to the way one lights a cigarette or sways to a disco beat — were particularly key to creating character.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
-
On top of all that, there’s elemental effects (like burning and freezing), and a Rock, Paper, Scissors-like system where certain actions can negate specific enemy attacks based on their type.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
-
To test the disruption theory, the researchers directly examined the effects of beam-plasma instabilities by measuring the jet’s beam profile and associated magnetic field signatures.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Considering how often pop culture influences baby names, this is one hell of a coincidence.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In recent years, celebrations for the Day of the Dead have taken on new influences, some gleaned from Hollywood.—
Rocío Muñoz-Ledo,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Marking identified a need for the district to change its attitude toward unregulated spending and tighten internal controls that will allow more board control over spending approvals.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Capital seekers can host confidential materials in secure virtual data rooms with NDA controls, while investment firms and professionals gain access to full CRM and deal flow management capabilities to manage contacts, deals, and workflows.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect (NTD) that affects the spine and is usually identified at birth.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One such affliction is Tay-Sachs, a disease that disproportionately affects people of Ashkenazi descent and destroys brain and spinal nerve cells.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But as the shutdown lurches through its fifth week, and legislators direct blame at each other, food pantries across the Kansas City area are left to grapple with the fallout.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, both sides will continue pretrial work under the Classified Information Procedures Act, which governs how classified evidence is handled.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Watson, newcomers Andrew Kump, Jermaine Howard and Carlos Pacheco III and incumbents Andrew Davis and Chuck Stites will serve on the eleven-member board of commissioners that governs the Unified Government and sets county policies.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
According to a media release from DHS regarding the ongoing impacts to the agency from the shutdown, funds administered to community partners through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Social Services Block Grant and Community Service Block Grant programs have been suspended.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The temporary lapse in SNAP benefits has already had dire impacts on families whose electronic benefits cards were due to be reloaded the first week of November.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Prime leverages free shipping and video streaming, along with numerous other perks, to keep users paying every month.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Another example is msg Global Solutions AG, whose Greenwashing Detector solution leverages generative AI to validate reports and detect potential greenwashing.—
Sophia Mendelsohn,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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