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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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
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
Riccardo’s performance encapsulates that frustration and jubilation, carrying the film on his charming, swaying shoulders.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
The mailbox, which surprisingly pops up from a landscape of sugar-white sand and sea oats swaying in the wind, creates a scene straight from a movie.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Harris’s support would be crucial to potentially swaying other members of the Freedom Caucus.
—Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026
Nathan Morris, Wanyá Morris, and Shawn Stockman joined on stage and got the massive crowd swaying to the ballad.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
The Jewish community responds With the meme aimed at swaying Jewish voters, in rotation, Howard Libit, the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, says political races should be won fair and square.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Instructor Jules led a beginner-friendly samba routine that included arm movements, swaying hips and traveling steps.
—Tamara Dunn, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
The cobra now was swaying, too.
—John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Sentiment in other nations is swaying China’s way, too.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 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
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
Riccardo’s performance encapsulates that frustration and jubilation, carrying the film on his charming, swaying shoulders.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Many in Sacramento are skeptical that Brin and his fellow ultra-rich will succeed in swaying California state politics.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
The mailbox, which surprisingly pops up from a landscape of sugar-white sand and sea oats swaying in the wind, creates a scene straight from a movie.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Harris’s support would be crucial to potentially swaying other members of the Freedom Caucus.
—Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026
Nathan Morris, Wanyá Morris, and Shawn Stockman joined on stage and got the massive crowd swaying to the ballad.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
The Jewish community responds With the meme aimed at swaying Jewish voters, in rotation, Howard Libit, the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, says political races should be won fair and square.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Instructor Jules led a beginner-friendly samba routine that included arm movements, swaying hips and traveling steps.
—Tamara Dunn, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
The cobra now was swaying, too.
—John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Sentiment in other nations is swaying China’s way, too.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaying
Adjective
-
The track is one of the shortest on the EP but the most concise, composed simply of guitar, strings, Tems’ lilting falsetto, and sparse backing vocals.—
Nelson C.J,
Rolling Stone,
21 Nov. 2025
-
The second violins introduce the second movement with a soft, lilting quality, creating music that’s elegant and musically complex.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
We are faced with a next generation of AI-enabled influencing that is readily undertaken on a massive scale.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the Lake County website, the auditor oversees ledgers and records affecting county funds, and oversees duties related to the assessment of property and levy and collection of property taxes, among other roles.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Shailene Woodley’s Paradise character Annie may have memorized every nook and cranny of Elvis Presley’s Memphis estate Graceland, but the actress herself hasn’t made the pilgrimage there in the wake of her affecting performance in the show’s second season.—
Scott Huver,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile the Caliente Range — those mountains just to the west — are lurching the opposite way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Commission is comprised of 13 commissioners who are appointed for terms of up to 5 years by the governor general on the advice of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, whose authority is exercised by the federal Cabinet of the governing party in the Canadian Parliament.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adams, who finished fourth in the crowded Democratic primary for mayor in 2025, added that women, in her experience, take a noticeably different approach to governing than men.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Foo Fighters performed two Your Favorite Toy songs live for the first time as the band served as musical guest on the latest episode of SNL UK.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The final version released in theaters focuses on Jackson's musical successes and difficult relationship with his father, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo).—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Knowing how to drive is the prompting.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Recently, her kids, ages 11 and 15, participated in a school walkout in protest of ICE without any prompting from her.—
Adrienne Farr,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After beginning the season out of the rotation, Jakucionis went on to crack the Heat’s rotation in December by impressing coaches with his energy, playmaking skills and ability to hold up on defense.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Rivera was able to complete 10 out of the 14 exercises without quitting, impressing the Father Stu star.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaying. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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