Synonyms for sway
sweɪsway

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. sway

   Govern carries the idea of authoritative administration or some exercise of authority that is at once effective and continuous; control is effective, but may be momentary or occasional. One controls what he holds or can hold at will absolutely in check; as, a skilful horseman controls a spirited horse; a person controls his temper; we say to one who is excited, "control yourself." A person commands another when he has, or claims, the right to make that other do his will, with power of inflicting penalty if not obeyed; he controls another whom he can effectually prevent from doing anything contrary to his will; he governs one whom he actually does cause, regularly or constantly, to obey his will; a parent may command a child whom he can not govern or control. The best teachers are not greatly prone to command, but govern or control their pupils largely by other means. Command is, however, often used in the sense of securing, as well as requiring, submission or obedience, as when we speak of a commanding influence; a man commands the situation when he can shape events as he pleases; a fortress commands the region when no enemy can pass against its resistance. Govern implies the exercise of knowledge and judgment as well as power. To rule is more absolute and autocratic than to govern; to sway is to move by quiet but effectual influence; to mold is not only to influence feeling and action, but to shape character; to manage is to secure by skilful contrivance the doing of one's will by those whom one can not directly control; a wise mother, by gentle means, sways the feelings and molds the lives of her children; to be able to manage servants is an important element of good housekeeping. The word reign, once so absolute, now simply denotes that one holds the official station of sovereign in a monarchy, with or without effective power; the Queen of England reigns; the Czar of Russia both reigns and rules.

   Synonyms:
   command, control, curb, direct, govern, influence, manage, mold, reign, reign over, restrain, rule

   Antonyms:
   be in subjection, be subject, comply, obey, submit, yield

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. swaynoun

   Synonyms:
   wield, influence, rule, authority, government, superiority, bias, dominion, control, preponderance, domination, supremacy, mastery, ascendency, weight, force, power

   Antonyms:
   weakness, inferiority, subordination, irresistance, obedience, subservience, subjection

2. swayverb

   Synonyms:
   influence, govern, rule, bias, wave, swing, wield

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. swaynoun

   controlling influence

   Synonyms:
   tilt, rock, careen

2. rock, careen, sway, tiltverb

   pitching dangerously to one side

   Synonyms:
   rock, disceptation, lean, rock-and-roll, rock 'n' roll, inclination, leaning, contention, careen, joust, tilt, rock'n'roll, controversy, disputation, contestation, stone, rock music, argument, rock and roll, arguing, list, rock candy

3. rock, sway, shakeverb

   move back and forth or sideways

   "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "She rocked back and forth on her feet"

   Synonyms:
   escape from, stimulate, persuade, excite, shake, shake off, didder, rock, carry, throw off, swing, shake up, judder, agitate, stir

4. swing, swayverb

   move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner

   "He swung back"

   Synonyms:
   drop, sweep, persuade, swing, shake, rock, carry, dangle, swing out, swing over, get around

5. carry, persuade, swayverb

   win approval or support for

   "Carry all before one"; "His speech did not sway the voters"

   Synonyms:
   rock, express, channel, persuade, post, transport, pack, convey, swing, acquit, hold, deport, impart, gestate, expect, dribble, shake, extend, run, have a bun in the oven, transmit, take, carry, stock, conduct, comport, bear, behave, stockpile, contain

6. rock, swayverb

   cause to move back and forth

   "rock the cradle"; "rock the baby"; "the wind swayed the trees gently"

   Synonyms:
   carry, persuade, shake, rock, swing

Matched Categories

1. • Move
   • Move Back And Forth
   • Power

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. swayverb

   Synonyms:
   move, wield, swing, wave, brandish

2. swayverb

   Synonyms:
   bias, prejudice, bend, turn, influence, persuade, prevail upon

3. swayverb

   Synonyms:
   rule, govern, direct, guide, control

4. swayverb

   Synonyms:
   incline, lean

5. swaynoun

   Synonyms:
   power, dominion, control, domination, command, rule, government, sovereignty, ascendancy, authority, predominance, mastership, mastery, supreme power

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. swaynoun

   Synonyms:
   dominion, domination, rule

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "sway":

   right-of-way, suai, influence, oscillation

NicknamesRate these nicknames:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of known nicknames for "Sway":

   Sway DaSafo, Derek Andrew Safo, 'Sway', Sway Calloway

Suggested Resources

1. sway

   Song lyrics by sway -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by sway on the Lyrics.com website.

2. SWAY

   What does SWAY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the SWAY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

How to pronounce sway?

How to say sway in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. 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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use sway in a sentence?

1. Tom Perry:

   Sway in the Morning, i just kept thinking,' You know, I just walked out of a room full of fools,'.

2. Joseph Addison:

   Content thyself to be obscurely good. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, the post of honor is a private station.

3. Devin Allen:

   Now I understand how powerful an image can be. I understand I'm not too small to make a change. I'm still an activist. I'm still a protester, you know. But at the same time, I'm in a different place now, you know, I have a lot of attention on me, so I'm able to give back to the community. I'm able to inspire the youth and sway, you know, them with my words and by telling my story. ... Devin Allen is -- you know, everyone calls me the 'Eyes of Baltimore.'.

4. Michael Famoroti:

   The cash crunch, petrol scarcity … are issues that are likely going to be top of mind for those who make it to the polls and arguably could sway the votes.

5. C. Kent Wright:

   To sway an audience, you must watch them as you speak.