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the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
Western nations that traditionally held sway in the region have become increasingly concerned about China’s plans to increase influence after Beijing signed defense, trade and financial deals with Pacific countries in the last three years. —Reuters, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2025 According to Stand With Crypto, nearly 300 pro-crypto lawmakers comprise the House and Senate this session, giving the industry unprecedented sway over the legislative agenda. —Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
Netanyahu's comments at a military graduation led to new concerns over the Israeli presence, and sway, in a swath of southern Syria as Damascus' new leaders attempt to consolidate control after years of civil war. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2025 Thus lynch law held sway in the far West until civilization spread into the Territories and the orderly processes of law took its place. —Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 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
  • The rise in sushi’s popularity is intertwined with a Ukrainian trend toward eating what America and the rest of the West eats—a cosmopolitan way of looking at the world absent of Russian influence.
    — Tim Mak, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Composed of more than 100 works dating to the late 1800s, the show examines the cultural influence of the sport and its representation of power, struggle and activism.
    — Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Building Local Partnerships Collaborating with local players can accelerate brand recognition and credibility and leverage established local distribution channels.
    — Praneeta Pujari, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Although preoccupied with its war of choice in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, Moscow is simultaneously making a major play to expand political leverage on the continent.
    — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of leverage
Noun
  • That power is vested in prosecutors as executive branch officials.
    — Michael Rothfeld, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The pair of turbines can generate up to 75 percent of the island’s power.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of power
Verb
  • Due date for individuals and businesses in the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and parts of Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia affected by severe storms and flooding from Hurricane Helene (☆) and Hurricane Milton.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The two countries exchange a series of tit-for-tat levies affecting hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods.
    — TIME, TIME, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Onlookers often see a chaotic show—politicians exploiting controversy, celebrities minting obscure tokens, and a sector seemingly lurching from one scandal to the next.
    — Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
  • With American soldiers still fighting in the Pacific theater, my father joined a war bond tour, lurching around the United States with some of the flag-raising soldiers to drum up financial support for what turned out to be the waning days of World War II.
    — Hannah Beech, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of lurch
Verb
  • Representatives from the five national governing bodies (NGBs) will convene at least every two weeks.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • There’s no national governing body for swim instructors.
    — The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of govern
Noun
  • In California, after mandatory-arrest laws went into effect, arrests of men increased by sixty per cent; arrests of women increased by four hundred per cent.
    — Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Despite the agreements, Trump’s decision on the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from Mexico and Canada, which are scheduled to come into effect on March 12, remains in limbo.
    — Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of effect
Noun
  • That sense of helplessness and loss of control reminded me of Alzheimer’s disease.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Brooklyn also reacquired control of its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets over the summer — a move that seemed to indicate the Nets expected to be picking high.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of control

Browse Nearby Words

sway
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sway. Accessed 13 Mar. 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

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular Features

See More

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

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words
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
girl-pencil-test
Challenging Standardized Test Words Quiz Vol. 3 You’re on your own for the math section.
See All