as in lilting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in influencing
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in affecting
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 lurching
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 governing
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
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 swaying
Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Sandy shores, a deep blue ocean, swaying palm trees?
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
Last night at a white elephant party, an In Waves vinyl record became the hottest commodity, which speaks to the album’s innate power to put experimental dance fans into a crowd-swaying trance.
—Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024
In the evening, the mom of two also posted a video of her and her baby girl swaying to Christmas music by the tree, which ended with Munn giving Méi a big kiss.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
This scenario played a significant role in swaying the court in favor of 23XI Racing and FRM, recognizing the business impacts elaborated by the teams.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
With notes of coconut water, sandalwood, white musk, and vanilla orchid, the sunbaked scent channels the feeling of swaying in a hammock after yoga on the beach, meditating to a soundtrack of crashing waves.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Coconut trees bend under the gusts of wind, their tall, towering trunks swaying against the gray sky.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of swaying voters, celebrity campaigns often end up rallying the opposition.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
More momentum-swaying sequences occurred in the second quarter.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Sandy shores, a deep blue ocean, swaying palm trees?
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
Last night at a white elephant party, an In Waves vinyl record became the hottest commodity, which speaks to the album’s innate power to put experimental dance fans into a crowd-swaying trance.
—Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024
In the evening, the mom of two also posted a video of her and her baby girl swaying to Christmas music by the tree, which ended with Munn giving Méi a big kiss.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
This scenario played a significant role in swaying the court in favor of 23XI Racing and FRM, recognizing the business impacts elaborated by the teams.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
With notes of coconut water, sandalwood, white musk, and vanilla orchid, the sunbaked scent channels the feeling of swaying in a hammock after yoga on the beach, meditating to a soundtrack of crashing waves.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Coconut trees bend under the gusts of wind, their tall, towering trunks swaying against the gray sky.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of swaying voters, celebrity campaigns often end up rallying the opposition.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
Lia Ouyang Rusli’s lilting score comes in just as its needed, and editing by Alex O’Flinn and Randi Atkins is perfectly pitched.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Outside Japan, the outros have been swapped for some lilting piano — casualties of the prohibitively expensive cost of licensing the song internationally.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
12 July 2024
Verb
-
The terms governing the use of the character are set out in a 71-page license agreement executive summary which was released in a 2014 hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
-
The lawsuit alleges that the park’s ownership violated Florida’s laws governing mobile home evictions, including by raising rents within 90 days of issuing the notice to vacate and by not offering the homeowners’ association the first right of refusal to purchase the land.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Dédé was born during this musical époque in 1827 to parents who were free Black Americans.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Williams caught up with Rolling Stone to talk about Beyoncé and Kelly seeing her on stage opening night, the gift Luther Vandross gave her after her first solo tour, getting confused for the other Michelle Williams, and the lost art of a musical bridge.—
Elise Brisco,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Some experts speculate that the reason the disease is affecting so many children is because many of them wore masks, stayed home when sick and did not attend daycare or venture out in public with their parents as often because of COVID-19 restrictions.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
-
The Die Hard actor is battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which can cause the lobes in the brain to shrink, affecting behavior, language, and more, according to Mayo Clinic.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The test comes more than a week after North Korea's ruling party held its annual meeting in Pyongyang.—
Anders Hagstrom,
Fox News,
6 Jan. 2025
-
He was voted in amid a wave of popularity for his ruling Liberal Party in late 2015 – very much viewed as a fresh face for the future and beating incumbent Stephen Harper – but has faced multiple challenges during a near decade-long tenure.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
As this seduction of sorts happens, Hannah lurks in the background worried her child will end up disappointed, while also growing increasingly worried about Jim’s ever-encroaching mortality.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Bars, dancefloors, pools, and house parties all come to mind as Kehlani straddles the thin line between flirtation and seduction.—
Stephen Kearse,
TIME,
9 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Your ruler Mercury will also station retrograde in Sagittarius—your seventh house of partnerships—on November 9, revealing all the ways your desires for independence may be shaking things up with up your closest allies and enemies.—
Roya Backlund,
StyleCaster,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Blending fiddle with a stomp-clap sing-along and a familiar hip-hop melody, the song etched a spot in music history this year by dominating charts and scoring near-countless streams.—
Matthew Leimkuehler,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
With new brands emerging daily, celebrity endorsements dominating the narrative, and marketing claims becoming increasingly hyperbolic, standing out as a true industry leader requires more than innovative packaging or a catchy tagline.—
Lara Devgan,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near swaying
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share