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outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities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
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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
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
The final shot sees Tom gazing out the window as a curtain gently sways in the warm breeze.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of baskets holding young oysters called spat are strung along a line that floats on the surface and sways like a long black snake in the water.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sways
Noun
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As well as testing the various systems on board, the crew will be test subjects themselves, helping Nasa understand the effects that space travel has on their cognition, sleep, stress, immune responses and cardiovascular health.—
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Those qualities align with the ever-growing vintage denim market, and denim mills’ and brands’ quest to recreate worn effects.—
Noun
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While 2025 denim was nearly a carbon copy of 2024—loose fits, Western influences, denim coordinates and minimal distressing—2026 could see an injection of newness.—
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Hormonal influences are also important, says Reese, particularly because autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women and often emerge during reproductive years or following major hormonal shifts such as pregnancy.—
Noun
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These features are further enhanced by technology that adapts to individual preferences, such as smart shower controls and lighting systems tailored to each user.—
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These product missteps have been further compounded by broader operational issues in the areas of marketing, supply chain and corporate cost controls.—
Verb
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Bird flu, a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus, affects poultry — including chickens, ducks and turkeys — and some wild bird species, including geese and shorebirds, the department said.—
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Kalani has hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a form of brain injury that affects muscle tone and mobility.—
Verb
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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.—
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As one officer reaches for the SUV's door handle, the vehicle lurches backward and then begins moving forward, rightward, seemingly away from the officers.—
Verb
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In September 2025, however, the lender filed a new notice of default that governs the current foreclosure efforts.—
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No federal regulatory body governs the health information provided to AI chatbots, and ChatGPT provides technology services that are not within the scope of HIPAA.—
Noun
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But law enforcement experts told CNN the dragging incident last summer could have affected his decision-making – though how such an experience impacts law enforcement varies from officer to officer.—
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According to Reconcept, the system performs especially well in high-stress environments where prolonged mental load impacts performance and recovery.—
Noun
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Yeh said that this revenue growth should improve operating leverages on the company’s future expenses, especially as Roku continues to invest in its sales and marketing and research and development.—
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The married duo leverages their bicultural expertise — Saucedo worked in China during the co-production boom of the 2010s, while Wang is fully immersed in the Chinese film and TV industry.—
Cite this Entry
“Sways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sways. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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