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
Relevance
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
as in lilting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swaying
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Bamboo basket boats swirl through the Bay Mau nipa palm forest—their skippers casting nets in the shade of swaying fronds.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The stabilizing device featured a 400-ton concrete block on a film of oil that would slide in the opposite direction to the building’s motion to counteract swaying.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Fallon then cut to a clip of Butler’s mini swaying moment, which went viral shortly after the concert.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
R29 Team, Refinery29, 12 Sep. 2025
The crowd was especially amped up during the performance, with Ciara among many in the audience standing up and swaying (and seemingly singing) along.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Hamas on Friday released a video of two hostages being driven around Gaza City, in a move apparently aimed at swaying Israeli public opinion as the military ramps up its assault on the city.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The amateur video shows the boat being pushed into the ocean down a track on the beach and then swaying within 15 minutes of setting off.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Bamboo Leaf Shoji Designed by Seido Iwata, the first head of Sekiso School of Ikebana, a paper sliding door, called shoji in Japanese, shows the silhouette of bamboo leaves gently swaying outside the window on the translucent washi paper.
—Isabelle Kliger, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Jati Bar sits a floor above Ayung Terrace, overlooking swaying trees and rice paddies, and serves light snacks and a selection of cocktails and wine.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025
These photos aren’t swaying anybody, no matter how devilishly handsome Ryan Gosling looks.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump may be the only person capable of swaying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is friendly with Putin, to stop blocking the body from advancing Ukraine’s integration.
—Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Yet somehow, in a medium of heavy copper, Fischl captures the lithe, swaying, physical vitality of Ashe, as well as the high-mindedness of the man who was so committed to social causes.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Bamboo basket boats swirl through the Bay Mau nipa palm forest—their skippers casting nets in the shade of swaying fronds.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The stabilizing device featured a 400-ton concrete block on a film of oil that would slide in the opposite direction to the building’s motion to counteract swaying.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Fallon then cut to a clip of Butler’s mini swaying moment, which went viral shortly after the concert.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
The sun is out, there’s a cool breeze, and the tree leaves are swaying in the breeze.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 12 Sep. 2025
The crowd was especially amped up during the performance, with Ciara among many in the audience standing up and swaying (and seemingly singing) along.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Hamas on Friday released a video of two hostages being driven around Gaza City, in a move apparently aimed at swaying Israeli public opinion as the military ramps up its assault on the city.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The amateur video shows the boat being pushed into the ocean down a track on the beach and then swaying within 15 minutes of setting off.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Bamboo Leaf Shoji Designed by Seido Iwata, the first head of Sekiso School of Ikebana, a paper sliding door, called shoji in Japanese, shows the silhouette of bamboo leaves gently swaying outside the window on the translucent washi paper.
—Isabelle Kliger, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Jati Bar sits a floor above Ayung Terrace, overlooking swaying trees and rice paddies, and serves light snacks and a selection of cocktails and wine.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025
These photos aren’t swaying anybody, no matter how devilishly handsome Ryan Gosling looks.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump may be the only person capable of swaying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is friendly with Putin, to stop blocking the body from advancing Ukraine’s integration.
—Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Verb
-
The format grants viewers unprecedented control over programming elements, from influencing contestant challenges involving current events and social issues to deciding elimination outcomes and performance selections.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The result, nearly eight months into his second term, is an economy that appears to be lurching into a new era of state control.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
There is a long history of tumult in American cricket, with USA Cricket Association - the previous governing body - expelled in 2017 after being suspended three times before that.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
State laws governing public universities make sense given that state governments, and their taxpayers, fund those universities.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The lilting Calle Malaga, Morocco’s official entry for the International Feature Film Oscar, is a joy largely because of its veteran star who envelops the screen and grabs a role of a career.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The first violins unfurl a lilting, lightly bopping tune in D minor.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By generating comprehensive solutions with minimal prompting, ChatGPT-5 removes the need for these mental rehearsals, creating a skill gap between competence and performance.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Computer scientist Peter Burke has unveiled a robot that uses generative AI models to train its brain and host hardware, subject to proper prompting by handlers.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, that is reportedly affecting the relationship between King Charles and Prince William.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Sep. 2025
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However, an anonymous former OLCA employee said the department is experiencing significant cuts, potentially affecting how well the agency can help Congress identify Social Security problems in certain areas.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal and Severance's Tramell Tillman — who are both nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama — both arrived rocking all-white looks that were pure magic.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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At the same time Moss was rocking an earring and quoting Jeezy, Surtain was rounding into an All-American at Alabama.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With Daniel Pinto set to retire in 2026 and Jennifer Piepszak ruling herself out, names like Marianne Lake, Mary Erdoes, and Troy Rohrbaugh remain in the mix, though Dimon confirmed the bank will also weigh external candidates.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
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One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.—
Sugam Pokharel,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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