sway
1 of 2noun
ˈswā 
1
: the action or an instance of swaying or of being swayed : an oscillating, fluctuating, or sweeping motion
2
: an inclination or deflection caused by or as if by swaying
3
a
: a controlling influence
b
: sovereign power : dominion
c
: the ability to exercise influence or authority : dominance
sway
2 of 2verb
swayed; swaying; sways
intransitive verb
1
a
: to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot
b
: to move gently from an upright to a leaning position
2
: to hold sway : act as ruler or governor
3
: to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and another
transitive verb
1
a
: to cause to sway : set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating
b
: to cause to bend downward to one side
c
: to cause to turn aside : deflect, divert
2
archaic
a
: wield
b
: govern, rule
3
a
: to cause to vacillate
b
: to exert a guiding or controlling influence on
4
: to hoist in place
sway up a mast
swayer noun
Synonyms
Noun
- effect
- impact
- influence
- mark
- repercussion
Verb
- affect
- impact
- impress
- influence
- move
- reach
- strike
- tell (on)
- touch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun the sway of the ship He has come under the sway of terrorists. The ancient Romans held sway over most of Europe. Verb branches swaying in the breeze He swayed a moment before he fainted. The lawyer tried to sway the jury. She persisted in her argument, but I wouldn't let her sway me. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 15 Sep. 2022 Hemmer and Continetti make the case that the Republican establishment still held sway as late as the George W. Bush years. Kim Phillips-fein, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 The Western movie genre held sway for decades over the box office. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2022 The Code Red has also been equipped with Ford Performance front and rear sway bars, performance half-shafts and had its suspension recalibrated. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 Stiffer springs, retuned front and rear sway bars, and new monotube dampers are also part of the mix, the latter of which offer faster damping force response than the twin-tube units used in the outgoing car. Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 16 May 2022 The MagneRide suspension has been recalibrated, and there are Shelby adjustable front and rear springs, along with Ford Performance front and rear sway bars. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 15 Dec. 2021 As the industry gets hyper competitive and with content still holding sway, expansive budgets play a huge role in content acquisition and production. Forbes, 2 Nov. 2021 So far, vaccine optimism appears to be holding sway. Felice Maranz, Bloomberg.com, 21 Nov. 2020 Alex Mann, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 Former President Donald Trump has not yet handed out an endorsement for the race, a component that could potentially sway voters in a particular direction. Aubrie Spady, Fox News, 19 July 2022 The resolution may have little practical impact, but could sway debate at the World Trade Organization over a proposal to relax intellectual property rules for making Covid-19 treatments and tests. Ed Silverman, STAT, 13 July 2022 Australia has strict rules on speech tied to criminal prosecutions, suggesting news coverage could sway jurors. Emma Hinchliffe And Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 23 June 2022 Among down-ballot races are contests that could sway the balance of power in Congress and the future of state criminal justice policies. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2022 The party is already staring down significant losses in a tough electoral climate, but their thinking is the Republican stranglehold over statewide elections in Ohio could sway voters the opposite direction. cleveland, 3 May 2022 Dishes feature unique twists that don't sway too far from their roots. Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 7 Mar. 2022 Yet the proposal for a civil rights audit of Apple won the backing of two advisory firms that often sway the votes of institutional shareholders. Michael Liedtke, ajc, 4 Mar. 2022 See More
Noun
The package also includes stiffer springs, thicker front and rear sway bars, and a rear wing with a Gurney flap for more downforce. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 15 Sep. 2022 Hemmer and Continetti make the case that the Republican establishment still held sway as late as the George W. Bush years. Kim Phillips-fein, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 The Western movie genre held sway for decades over the box office. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2022 The Code Red has also been equipped with Ford Performance front and rear sway bars, performance half-shafts and had its suspension recalibrated. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 Stiffer springs, retuned front and rear sway bars, and new monotube dampers are also part of the mix, the latter of which offer faster damping force response than the twin-tube units used in the outgoing car. Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 16 May 2022 The MagneRide suspension has been recalibrated, and there are Shelby adjustable front and rear springs, along with Ford Performance front and rear sway bars. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 15 Dec. 2021 As the industry gets hyper competitive and with content still holding sway, expansive budgets play a huge role in content acquisition and production. Forbes, 2 Nov. 2021 So far, vaccine optimism appears to be holding sway. Felice Maranz, Bloomberg.com, 21 Nov. 2020 Verb
The gag order issued June 7 by Circuit Court Judge John Nugent prohibits lawyers involved in the case and their staffs from making statements outside court that could sway public opinion about the case. Alex Mann, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 Former President Donald Trump has not yet handed out an endorsement for the race, a component that could potentially sway voters in a particular direction. Aubrie Spady, Fox News, 19 July 2022 The resolution may have little practical impact, but could sway debate at the World Trade Organization over a proposal to relax intellectual property rules for making Covid-19 treatments and tests. Ed Silverman, STAT, 13 July 2022 Australia has strict rules on speech tied to criminal prosecutions, suggesting news coverage could sway jurors. Emma Hinchliffe And Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 23 June 2022 Among down-ballot races are contests that could sway the balance of power in Congress and the future of state criminal justice policies. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2022 The party is already staring down significant losses in a tough electoral climate, but their thinking is the Republican stranglehold over statewide elections in Ohio could sway voters the opposite direction. cleveland, 3 May 2022 Dishes feature unique twists that don't sway too far from their roots. Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 7 Mar. 2022 Yet the proposal for a civil rights audit of Apple won the backing of two advisory firms that often sway the votes of institutional shareholders. Michael Liedtke, ajc, 4 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sweigh, from sweyen
Verb
alteration of earlier swey to fall, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to sway; akin to Lithuanian svaigti to become dizzy
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1500, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing sway
Kids Definition
sway 1 of 2
verb
ˈswā
swayed; swaying
1
: to swing slowly back and forth or from side to side
Tree branches were swaying in the wind.
2
: to change or cause to change between one point, position, or opinion and another
The lawyer tried to sway the jury.
sway
2 of 2noun
1
: the act of slowly swinging back and forth or from side to side
2
: a controlling influence or force : rule
The country is under the sway of a tyrant.
sway 1 of 2
noun
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
- influence
- effect
- impact
- pull
- consequence
- repercussion
- clout
- weight
- prestige
- dominion
- mark
- authority
- domination
- importance
- significance
- mastery
- command
- sovereignty
- supremacy
- sovranty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weakness
- helplessness
- impotence
- powerlessness
- impotency
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
- influence
- leverage
- pull
- clout
- weight
- authority
- in
- credit
- heft
- importance
- juice
- dominance
- impress
- dominion
- impression
- reign
- predominance
- impact
- counterinfluence
- sovereignty
- moment
- scepter
- supremacy
- mastery
- eminence
- command
- consequence
- sovranty
- imprint
- mark
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weakness
- helplessness
- impotence
- powerlessness
- impotency
3
as in control
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
- control
- power
- dominion
- reign
- influence
- hold
- authority
- grip
- arm
- command
- clutch
- jurisdiction
- sovereignty
- pull
- mastery
- death grip
- rein(s)
- leverage
- dominance
- clout
- voice
- privilege
- direction
- management
- right
- weight
- prerogative
- predominance
- supremacy
- importance
- moment
- imperium
- eminence
- sovranty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weakness
- impotence
- powerlessness
- helplessness
- impotency
sway
2 of 2verb
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
- influence
- affect
- impact
- impress
- touch
- strike
- reach
- interest
- inspire
- move
- get to
- involve
- bother
- attract
- disturb
- dazzle
- bias
- fascinate
- penetrate
- stir
- concern
- tell (on)
- entrance
- enrapture
- carry away
- worry
- engage
- trouble
- perturb
- transport
- try
- captivate
- enthral
- ravish
- enthrall
- enchant
- upset
- pierce
- plague
- disquiet
- harass
- color
- agitate
- stress
- afflict
- pester
- smite
- charm
- discomfort
- allure
- bewitch
- harry
- distress
- fluster
- wring
- discompose
- strain
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bore
- weary
- pall
- tire
- jade
- underwhelm
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
- lurch
- shake
- rock
- toss
- roll
- wobble
- halt
- vibrate
- jerk
- careen
- seesaw
- wabble
- waver
- tumble
- vacillate
- falter
- pitch
- undulate
- totter
- weave
- oscillate
- stagger
- hitch
- hobble
- jolt
- toddle
- stumble
- waggle
- buck
- waddle
- reel
- dodder
- flounder
- teeter
- blunder
- wag
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
- govern
- rule
- control
- dominate
- dictate
- domineer
- captain
- command
- manage
- lead
- boss
- regulate
- oversee
- direct
- head
- administer
- subjugate
- supervise
- preside (over)
- conduct
- oppress
- master
- micromanage
- tyrannize
- subdue
- conquer
- superintend
- reign (over)
- lord (it over)
Synonym Chooser
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
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
While in some cases nearly identical to sway, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.
the army officer in command
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
The synonyms dominion and sway are sometimes interchangeable, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.
given dominion over all the animals
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
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