as in lilting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in influencing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in governing
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
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 swaying
Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Sandy shores, a deep blue ocean, swaying palm trees?
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
Last night at a white elephant party, an In Waves vinyl record became the hottest commodity, which speaks to the album’s innate power to put experimental dance fans into a crowd-swaying trance.
—Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024
In the evening, the mom of two also posted a video of her and her baby girl swaying to Christmas music by the tree, which ended with Munn giving Méi a big kiss.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
This scenario played a significant role in swaying the court in favor of 23XI Racing and FRM, recognizing the business impacts elaborated by the teams.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
With notes of coconut water, sandalwood, white musk, and vanilla orchid, the sunbaked scent channels the feeling of swaying in a hammock after yoga on the beach, meditating to a soundtrack of crashing waves.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Coconut trees bend under the gusts of wind, their tall, towering trunks swaying against the gray sky.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of swaying voters, celebrity campaigns often end up rallying the opposition.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
More momentum-swaying sequences occurred in the second quarter.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Sandy shores, a deep blue ocean, swaying palm trees?
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
Last night at a white elephant party, an In Waves vinyl record became the hottest commodity, which speaks to the album’s innate power to put experimental dance fans into a crowd-swaying trance.
—Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024
In the evening, the mom of two also posted a video of her and her baby girl swaying to Christmas music by the tree, which ended with Munn giving Méi a big kiss.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
This scenario played a significant role in swaying the court in favor of 23XI Racing and FRM, recognizing the business impacts elaborated by the teams.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
With notes of coconut water, sandalwood, white musk, and vanilla orchid, the sunbaked scent channels the feeling of swaying in a hammock after yoga on the beach, meditating to a soundtrack of crashing waves.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Coconut trees bend under the gusts of wind, their tall, towering trunks swaying against the gray sky.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of swaying voters, celebrity campaigns often end up rallying the opposition.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
The film and her lilting performance in it show how grief can coexist with a kind of grace — a peace with the unknowability of what lies beyond.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Strong breezes have come with another day of drizzle, a chaotic and lilting series of gusts that have required extra effort with every flap of her transparent wings and every maneuver through the vegetation.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The cooperative’s governing documents guide the board’s decisions, outlining specific responsibilities and limitations.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Whether your board can discontinue maintenance hinges on the co-op’s governing documents and the approval of any change by the requisite voting interests.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The singer-songwriter is certainly gearing up for her next major musical chapter, and work on another collection of some kind seems to have already started – at least, if a recent comment from a Swedish DJ is to be believed.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
That would be the Mahler Festival, a musical G20 summit of sorts celebrating the life and legacy of Gustav Mahler.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This helps your healthcare provider check for infections, kidney problems, or other issues affecting your bladder and urinary tract.—
Sayaka Blickenderfer, PhD,
Health,
14 Mar. 2025
-
This helps your healthcare provider check for infections, kidney problems, or other issues affecting your bladder and urinary tract.—
Sayaka Blickenderfer, PhD,
Health,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
He was voted in amid a wave of popularity for his ruling Liberal Party in late 2015 – very much viewed as a fresh face for the future and beating incumbent Stephen Harper – but has faced multiple challenges during a near decade-long tenure.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2025
-
According to a unanimous Court of Appeal ruling in summer 2024, the trial judge marred the original guilty verdict by allowing the jury to proceed despite knowing that one juror had attempted to bribe the others.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Ads like Carl’s Jr.’s are unsubtle seductions, but what is The Substance trying to seduce its viewers into experiencing and considering otherwise?—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The filmmakers’ gaze sometimes stops to watch a specific event, like a dance or a discreet seduction.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In the video, a terrified Archie can be seen frozen, staring and shaking.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Vancouver, meanwhile, fell short against the New York Rangers, despite thoroughly dominating play and out-chancing the struggling Rangers by a brutally lopsided margin.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Outside cash is dominating the special election for a new county supervisor in the South Bay.—
Andrew Keatts,
Axios,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share