swayverb
uk/sweɪ/us/sweɪ/sway verb (MOVE)
[ I ] to move slowly from side to side:
The trees were swaying in the wind.
The movement of the ship caused the mast to sway from side to side/back and forth.
A drunk was standing in the middle of the street, swaying uncertainly and trying hard to stay upright.
[ T ] to cause something to move or change:
Recent developments have swayed the balance of power in the region.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Shaking, swinging and vibrating
- agitate
- brandish
- churn
- flourish
- fluff sth up
- jitter
- joggle
- resonate
- reverberate
- rocky
- shake
- stir sth up
- swing
- teeter
- throb
- totter
- tremble
- tremulous
- wag
- worry
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Changing
General words for movement
sway verb (PERSUADE)
[ T ] to persuade someone to believe or do one thing rather than another:
Her speech failed to sway her colleagues into supporting the plan.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Urging & persuading
- argumentation
- blag
- brainwash
- bring
- browbeat
- butter
- get sth out of sb
- incite
- persuasion
- preach
- press-gang
- prevail on/upon sb
- proselytize
- rush sb into (doing) sth
- sucker sb into sth
- swing
- talk sb down
- talk sb out of sth
- twist
- work on sb
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swaynoun [ U ]
uk/sweɪ/us/sweɪ/formalcontrol or influence:
In the 1980s, the organization came under the sway of (= became strongly influenced by) Christian fundamentalism.
Her parents no longer seem to have much sway over her.
The party could hold sway (= have an important influence) on some crucial votes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Power to control
- ascendancy
- big beast
- buy-in
- chairmanship
- determination
- discipline
- dominant
- juice
- leadership
- lever
- manipulation
- mastery
- muscle
- oversight
- responsibility
- sphere of influence
- spin control
- state-controlled
- states' rights
- tooth
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