sway 1 of 2

noun

ˈswā How to pronounce sway (audio)
Definition of swaynext
1
as in influence
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 leverage
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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 power
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

sway

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to influence
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 to lurch
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 to govern
archaic to exercise authority or power over an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sway contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sway are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and power. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

When can authority be used instead of sway?

The meanings of authority and sway largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can command take the place of sway?

While in some cases nearly identical to sway, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for sway?

In some situations, the words control and sway are roughly equivalent. However, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When could dominion be used to replace sway?

The synonyms dominion and sway are sometimes interchangeable, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is jurisdiction a more appropriate choice than sway?

The words jurisdiction and sway are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

When is it sensible to use power instead of sway?

The words power and sway can be used in similar contexts, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sway
Noun
In the wake of the scandal, Ikenberry called for the resignations of all university trustees, stating that the revelation that powerful people had held sway over admissions decisions jeopardized the integrity of the institution. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Several experts suggested imposing individualized tariff rates could give Trump even more sway over foreign leaders eager to avoid economic blowback. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
That decision may be one of the first indications whether Hollywood would be swayed by the latest encroachment on LGBTQ rights in the country or whether the financial upside of shooting in Hungary would prove too appealing. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2025 Several small non-aligned parties captured the rest of the seats and will be easily swayed to give the presidential contest winner a working majority, said Sebastian Hurtado, a political risk consultant based in Quito. —Carrie Kahn, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sway
  1. influence
  2. leverage
  3. power
  4. affect
  5. lurch
  6. govern
  7. effect
  8. control
Noun
  • Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Advocacy, messaging and partnerships must go where the influence is moving.
    — Toby Wong, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • While most of the market is still chasing sales through cold outreach or aggressive ad spend, the real winners are building leverage through smarter, aligned and scalable partnerships.
    — Henry McIntosh, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Many of the softest housing markets, where homebuyers have gained leverage, are located in Sun Belt regions of the Gulf Coast and Mountain West.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of leverage
Noun
  • Hugo saw that something as simple as shoes could be solved with the right approach and insights, cementing his belief in the power of technology to solve real-world problems.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • This feature gives you more control, giving you the power to decide what is enough for you.
    — Celeste Polanco, Essence, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of power
Verb
  • In some cases, those products haven’t been affected yet because of existing inventory.
    — Jim Wang, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • In court, the judge cautioned prosecutors to remind Bondi and others that public statements could affect the jury selection process.
    — Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of affect
Verb
  • My stomach dropped as my seat lurched backwards, pointing me towards the shoreline.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • As the war lurched into its fourth year, Russian losses of tanks, fighting vehicles and other heavy equipment had exceeded 20,000, according to the analysts at the Oryx intelligence collective, which confirms each loss with imagery from the front line.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of lurch
Verb
  • The President’s ironclad hegemony had become a pathetic circus of blunders until the IMF deal, threatening to prove campaign predictions of amateurism and incapacity to govern true, just as the campaign for the midterm elections gets under way.
    — Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The announcement follows a change in U.S. customs regulations governing which items need to be formally declared upon entering the country.
    — Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of govern
Noun
  • That kind of knowledge production has, in effect, been automated.
    — D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Louisiana Louisiana’s law went into effect Jan. 1 requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but the state hasn't issued guidance on what documentation residents need.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of effect
Noun
  • But there are a few additional pros for keeping the curtain closed, including—perhaps surprisingly—its own version of mold and mildew control.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Guam plays a vital role in enabling the ability to operate forward by supporting logistics, command and control, and fleet readiness, the U.S. Navy said.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of control

Browse Nearby Words

swatting
sway
swayed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sway

Nglish: Translation of sway for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All