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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
Mike Defabo, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
From leathery leaves to porcupine-like seedheads to foliage that sways gracefully, perennials offer all kinds of engaging winter interest.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
Winter’s vocal presence imagines a fearless indie oddball like Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus going for the full prattling gusto of the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger; the band tussles and sways exhilaratingly underfoot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With Normani twerking up on the fence, Chiles moved center stage with professional dancing partner Ezra Sosa for a final round of dips, sways and high leaps that helped earn the tumbler third place in this year’s competition.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Now, in case of an earthquake, the whole 100-year-old station simply sways gently on these bearings.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025
Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
That sways decisions from time-to-time.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
From leathery leaves to porcupine-like seedheads to foliage that sways gracefully, perennials offer all kinds of engaging winter interest.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
Winter’s vocal presence imagines a fearless indie oddball like Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus going for the full prattling gusto of the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger; the band tussles and sways exhilaratingly underfoot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With Normani twerking up on the fence, Chiles moved center stage with professional dancing partner Ezra Sosa for a final round of dips, sways and high leaps that helped earn the tumbler third place in this year’s competition.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Now, in case of an earthquake, the whole 100-year-old station simply sways gently on these bearings.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025
Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
-
Throw in different playing surfaces, and schedules that feature fewer days off between games, and those variables alter the assessment of the effects on expanding the seasons.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Dallas Morning News examined the impact of policy changes and program eliminations by the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the effects on North Texas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Chef Carter mixes regional influences with local produce and global touches to develop an unforgettable culinary experience in the Lowcountry.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The spa The full-service spa with 10 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms is permeated with Asian influences in its interior design—there’s a central stone courtyard with a reflection pond and Zen meditation garden—and its treatment menu.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In lieu of complicated controls and systems, these games seized on the high-energy gameplay of intense dogfighting moments, boiling it down into arcadey combat that was more accessible to the masses.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Then came write-downs of many of its iconic brands, like Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Maxwell House and Velveeta, in addition to a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to its accounting policies and internal controls.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tourism boards in Wisconsin consistently note that seasonal demand affects accommodation availability, making early communication especially helpful for guests.—
K.H. Koehler,
jsonline.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The dense fog advisory also affects communities including Fresno, Merced, Kerman, Los Banos, Sanger, Selma, Tulare and Visalia.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Three seconds later, the Honda crashes into a parked car with such force its tires fly off the street, the pile of cars lurches forward several feet and snow billows.—
Claire Galofaro,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The paranoia that now governs American life echoes the paranoid logic of the domestic thriller.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Across the country, a patchwork system governs requirements for strippers.—
Barbara Hoberock,
Oklahoman,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Spotty flurries are possible Tuesday night, but impacts should be minimal.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Researchers show that triaxial deformation impacts charge radii in models that feature shell effects, in contrast to what could be concluded from a liquid drop analysis.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
OneTeam Partners negotiates media deals and leverages players’ name, image and licensing rights.—
David Carrillo Peñaloza,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Vance Joseph’s defense in Denver is often predicated on playing certain leverages within man coverage.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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