swayed; swaying; sways
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
1
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
Examples of sway in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
And amending the charter would be tricky – even for Trump and his outsized sway over the company.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Interviewed last week, soldiers who recently fought there described small sways in the front in both directions, and being badly outgunned by Russian artillery.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Yet press freedom activists warn that the famously boisterous media has become a target of Pakistan’s military establishment, which holds enormous sway over law and politics.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2024
Conley was president of the Hall of Fame for 20 years until 2023 and still holds sway over the organization.
—Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
Salespeople have significant sway over how much money customers are willing to put forward—and software executives often underestimate that sway.
—Chris Mele, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Sixty years later, a red Corvette still holds sway.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
Under the sway of former President Donald J. Trump, many of AIPAC’s traditional allies on the right have opposed additional funds for Ukraine, blocking the House from moving ahead with legislation that would also provide billions to Israel.
—Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
With virtually all abortions in the state soon to be outlawed, Arizona has moved front and center in the national fight over reproductive rights that could help sway the election between President Biden and former President Trump.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors also criticized public statements made by Baldwin after the incident, accusing the actor of attempting to sway public opinion.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The seven giraffes all stopped eating to huddle at the back of their enclosure, swaying with anxiety.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Corporations often form working groups or write reports on issues facing their industries with the goal of swaying a debate in their favor.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
When the largest earthquake in Taiwan in half a century struck off its east coast, the buildings in the closest city, Hualien, swayed and rocked.
—Siyi Zhao Lam Yik Fei, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Shakira locks in on the camera with a fierce, smoldering intensity and begins rhythmically swaying hips clad in studded black leather.
—Patricia Alfonso Tortolani, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
The document puts in writing pledges made previously in a meeting between leadership of Nippon Steel and the union — which have so far failed to sway the labor group.
—Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
And while many of the voters in that third bucket are thought to typically break for one party or the other, moderates still hold outsized sway and have blunted political aspirations of hard-liners in recent cycles, including Lake two years ago.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
And amending the charter would be tricky – even for Trump and his outsized sway over the company.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Interviewed last week, soldiers who recently fought there described small sways in the front in both directions, and being badly outgunned by Russian artillery.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Yet press freedom activists warn that the famously boisterous media has become a target of Pakistan’s military establishment, which holds enormous sway over law and politics.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2024
Conley was president of the Hall of Fame for 20 years until 2023 and still holds sway over the organization.
—Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
Salespeople have significant sway over how much money customers are willing to put forward—and software executives often underestimate that sway.
—Chris Mele, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Sixty years later, a red Corvette still holds sway.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
Under the sway of former President Donald J. Trump, many of AIPAC’s traditional allies on the right have opposed additional funds for Ukraine, blocking the House from moving ahead with legislation that would also provide billions to Israel.
—Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
Even the gym features floor-to-ceiling windows with front-row views of swaying palms and the coastline, making working out while on vacation more enjoyable.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
With virtually all abortions in the state soon to be outlawed, Arizona has moved front and center in the national fight over reproductive rights that could help sway the election between President Biden and former President Trump.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors also criticized public statements made by Baldwin after the incident, accusing the actor of attempting to sway public opinion.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The seven giraffes all stopped eating to huddle at the back of their enclosure, swaying with anxiety.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Corporations often form working groups or write reports on issues facing their industries with the goal of swaying a debate in their favor.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
When the largest earthquake in Taiwan in half a century struck off its east coast, the buildings in the closest city, Hualien, swayed and rocked.
—Siyi Zhao Lam Yik Fei, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Shakira locks in on the camera with a fierce, smoldering intensity and begins rhythmically swaying hips clad in studded black leather.
—Patricia Alfonso Tortolani, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
The document puts in writing pledges made previously in a meeting between leadership of Nippon Steel and the union — which have so far failed to sway the labor group.
—Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg.com, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sway
Cite this Entry
“Sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sway. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sway
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to swing or cause to swing slowly back and forth
b
: to move gently from an upright to a leaning position
2
: to change often between one point, position, or opinion and another
3
: to have a strong influence upon
swayer
noun
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