Tall buildings may sway in a strong wind.
Source: tatoeba (19190)
Sway
/sweɪ/
Synonyms for "sway" (445 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (89)
Verb(9 words)
acmeadministrationadvantageaffectalternateamplitudeangleangle offangularityargue intoascendascendancyauthorityauthorizationback and fillbankbe-all and end-allbear offbear reignbend
Show 46 more words
biasblow hot and coldblue ribbonblunderbobbobblebreak downbringbring overbring roundbring to reasoncantcaptivatecareencareercarrycave inchampionshipcharismacharmcivil governmentclawsclimbcloutclutchescogglecollapsecolorcommandconconductconsequencecontrolconvertconvincecreditcrookdangledecidedeclinedeflectdescenddeterminedeviatedipdirect
Adjective(3 words)
behavioral influencecommon rockcontrolling influence
Strong matches (134)
directiondirectorshipdisciplinedispensationdisposedispositiondistortdivagatedivergedivertdominancedominationdominiondraw overdropebb and floweffecteffectivenesseminenceempery
Show 88 more words
empireenchantmentengageenlistesteemexpansefallfall awayfall infall offfalterfascinatefavorfirst placefirst prizeflounceflounderfluctuateflutterforceform of governmentfoundergaingain overgetget to dogo downhillgo through phasesgo uphillgood feelinggoverngovernancegovernmentgradegraspgripguidehandhandsheadshipheavehegemonyheighthighesthobbyhorseholdhookhook inimperiumimportanceimpressincidental powerinclinationinclineinduceinfluenceinfluentialityinsinuationinspireinterestinterest iniron handjarjaundicejurisdictionkeelkingshiplaborleadlead by the noseleadershipleanleaningleaning towerleveragelibratelibrationlistlobbylocklordshiplurchluremagnetismmake heavy weathermanagemanagementmastership
Noun(14 words)
dutch invloedeffects techniquesfrench media influencegroovegroup persuasionhulashuman influenceinfluenceinfluence tacticinfluencesinfluencingliltliltinglobbying power
Adjective(5 words)
economic influencefamily influencegerman einflussgreat influenceimmediate influence
Verb(7 words)
Related words (222)
masterymaximummightmomentmostmotionmovene plus ultranew highnutateobliqueoscillateouttalkoverripeoverruleoversightpalmpalmsparamountcypendulate
Show 152 more words
personalitypersuadepersuasionpitchpitch and plungepitch and tossplungepolitical organizationpolitypotencypoundpowerpredisposepredominanceprejudiceprejudice againstprejudice the issuepreponderanceprepossesspresidencypressureprestigeprevailprevail onprevail uponprevail withprevalenceprimacyprocurepromptpurchaserajrakerangereachrearrecordreelregimeregimenregnancyregulationreignreputeresonateretreatring the changesriserockrollroomrulerule oversayscendscopeseesawseethesellsell one onshakesheershelveshiftshufflesidleskewslantslopesluesoften upsovereigntyspreadstaggerstretchstrikestringstringsstrugglestumblesuasionsubtle influencesuggestionsupervisionsupremacyswagsweepswerveswingswingingsystem of governmenttalktalk intotalk overtalonsteeterteeter totterteeter-tottertempttendthrash abouttilttingetiptonetop spottoppletopple downtopple overtosstoss and tumbletoss and turntottertouchtower of pisatumbleturntwistundulateupperupper handupriseurgevacillatevaryveervibratevolutationwagwagglewallopwallowwanglewangle intowarpwavewaverwax and wanewear downwear the crownweaveweigh withweightwelterwhip handwield the scepterwinwin overwobbleworkyawzenith
Determiner(1 words)
no friction influence
Noun(29 words)
Verb(14 words)
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: rock, rock, tilt, acme, administration.
- Sentence evidence is available for sway, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sway".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sway"
Keep "sway" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sway" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sway", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sway" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
12 entriesCollocations
11 entriescultural swayeconomic swaymoral swaypolitical swaypublic swaysway decisionssway opinionssway public opinionsway supportsway the outcomesway the vote
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
31 total sentences available.
Nothing could sway his conviction.
Source: tatoeba (286792)
In truth, a man who renders everyone their due because he fears the gallows, acts under the sway and compulsion of others, and cannot be called just. But a man who does the same from a knowledge of the true reason for laws and their necessity, acts from a firm purpose and of his own accord, and is therefore properly called just.
Source: tatoeba (410270)
Though he is no longer president, he still holds considerable sway among the political elite.
Source: tatoeba (587885)
Showing 4 of 31 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sway"?
Closest matches include rock, rock, tilt, acme, administration.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sway"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.