sphere of influence
noun phrase
: a territorial area within which the political influence or the interests of one nation are held to be more or less paramount
Examples of sphere of influence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On day 5, Orion will enter the lunar sphere of influence, meaning the moon is the main gravitational pull.
—
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
After swinging around the far side of the moon and exiting the lunar sphere of influence, three small burns will ensure Orion is on the right course for splashdown, with the last one occurring on the 10th day of the flight.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Ideas like empire and spheres of influence were not anachronisms or pejoratives but descriptors of how geopolitics functions in practice.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026
Iran’s collapse is a black mark against China’s sales pitch to the international community that its sphere of influence can provide safety and stability outside the West.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sphere of influence
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
After swinging around the far side of the moon and exiting the lunar sphere of influence, three small burns will ensure Orion is on the right course for splashdown, with the last one occurring on the 10th day of the flight.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Ideas like empire and spheres of influence were not anachronisms or pejoratives but descriptors of how geopolitics functions in practice.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026
Iran’s collapse is a black mark against China’s sales pitch to the international community that its sphere of influence can provide safety and stability outside the West.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sphere of influence
Cite this Entry
“Sphere of influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sphere%20of%20influence. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
