as in lilting
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1
as in affecting
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?"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lurching
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 governing
archaic
to exercise authority or power over
an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of swaying
Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Chisora would react by dipping and swaying.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Tuesday night’s elections further showed the swaying power that Latinx voters can have.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Everyone sat down around a fire pit, except for Land, who stood, face lit from below, gesturing and swaying.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That’s why, in Wicked onstage, there is a giant dragon above the proscenium that activates at the very beginning of the show, roaring and swaying.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
With Crow leading the verses, the other artists wrapped their arms around each other, swaying and singing.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2025
Another key feature of the new design is its 3-degree-of-freedom waist, which allows the robot to perform human-like movements such as bending, twisting, and side-swaying with precision.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
ABC News, 28 May 2026
Footage of giant yellow black-eyed Susan flowers beams onto the wall from one projector, intersecting with video of swaying plants from another.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Rather than tightly clinging to the body, the dress moves freely, swaying to the rhythm of its own silhouette.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
With the single coil swaying over her face, the back bun was kept busy with a flower adornment pinned by stylist Luke Pluckrose.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
From hiking and biking to navigating swaying cruise ships and 500-acre theme parks, shoppers have put these comfy, supportive sandals to the test.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
Balconies overlooking two pools that lead to the ocean, the sound of swaying palms and surf come gratis.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
The sensation of swaying high above the ground might be impossible to quell at the World Cup.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Adjective
As the sun set below blush clouds, the gently swaying crowd matched the R&B singer’s sultry energy.
—Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
There’s an ever present sense of the air moving, seen in the grass swaying and the smoke drifting.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Chisora would react by dipping and swaying.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Tuesday night’s elections further showed the swaying power that Latinx voters can have.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Everyone sat down around a fire pit, except for Land, who stood, face lit from below, gesturing and swaying.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That’s why, in Wicked onstage, there is a giant dragon above the proscenium that activates at the very beginning of the show, roaring and swaying.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
With Crow leading the verses, the other artists wrapped their arms around each other, swaying and singing.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2025
Another key feature of the new design is its 3-degree-of-freedom waist, which allows the robot to perform human-like movements such as bending, twisting, and side-swaying with precision.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
In general, bears show agitation by swaying their heads, huffing, and clacking their teeth.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Footage of giant yellow black-eyed Susan flowers beams onto the wall from one projector, intersecting with video of swaying plants from another.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Rather than tightly clinging to the body, the dress moves freely, swaying to the rhythm of its own silhouette.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
With the single coil swaying over her face, the back bun was kept busy with a flower adornment pinned by stylist Luke Pluckrose.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
From hiking and biking to navigating swaying cruise ships and 500-acre theme parks, shoppers have put these comfy, supportive sandals to the test.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
Balconies overlooking two pools that lead to the ocean, the sound of swaying palms and surf come gratis.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
The sensation of swaying high above the ground might be impossible to quell at the World Cup.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
Tripping along a lilting triplet rhythm, the album opens with one of its catchiest melodies—and one of those sleight-of-hand maneuvers that are Hoop’s specialty.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
19 May 2026
-
What started out as a lilting memoir of youthful abandon eventually reveals itself to be something far more disturbing and scarring.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Seven states have now passed legislation to regulate family influencing, but these laws mostly just ensure that parents set aside a percentage of earnings to compensate their children.—
Kristen Martin,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2026
-
Once dismissed as a side hustle or vanity career, social media influencing has rapidly evolved into one of the most lucrative—and measurable—jobs in the modern economy.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Automakers and cell manufacturers require extensive testing before approving new suppliers, particularly for materials directly affecting battery performance and safety.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
While several ambitious Democratic governors emerged as leading voices of opposition to the administration, Whitmer adopted a more conciliatory approach, emphasizing cooperation with the White House on issues affecting Michigan.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
-
The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Senegal beat Morocco to win its second continental title earlier this year, but was subsequently deemed to have forfeited the game by African football’s governing body because much of the squad had left the field after a contentious penalty call late in the game.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
-
City officials have not shared publicly the circumstances surrounding his resignation, and the agreement governing his departure has remained secret.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
But a love of musical theater has been core to the 13-year-old McKenna’s journey into acting and to the [redacted]-year-old Thorne’s relationship to the story.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
-
Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, emphasized the broader fair that is scheduled from June 25 through July 10 includes an array of exhibits, family friendly attractions, musical performances, flyovers and more.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
These followers, or individuals who react or respond to the prompting of opinion leaders, may not necessarily qualify as opinion leaders themselves.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
-
Knowing how to drive is the prompting.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The resulting look will come off as effortless and casual, but distinctly elevated—perfect for impressing a date.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 May 2026
-
Carson Benge went 2-for-2 with two RBI, impressing in his at-bats.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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