Sway vs. Influence — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Sway and Influence
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Compare with Definitions
Sway
To swing back and forth or to and fro.
Influence
A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort
The pervasive influence that TV has on modern life.
Young people falling under the influence of a radical philosopher.
Sway
To incline or bend to one side; veer
She swayed and put out a hand to steady herself.
Influence
Power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position
Used her family's influence to get the job.
Sway
To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling
He swayed toward trying out for the chorus.
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Influence
A person who exerts such power
My parents considered my friend to be a bad influence on me.
Sway
To fluctuate, as in outlook.
Influence
A determining factor believed by some to affect individual tendencies and characteristics understood to be caused by the positions of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
Sway
To cause to swing back and forth or to and fro
The breeze swayed the wheat.
Influence
Factors believed to be caused by the changing positions of the stars and planets in relation to their positions at the time of one's birth.
Sway
To cause to incline or bend
The wind swayed the trees toward the house.
Influence
To have an influence on (something); change
A news report that influenced the outcome of the election.
Sway
To exert influence or control over
His speech swayed the voters.
Influence
To change the behavior or thinking of (someone); sway
Negative ads that are intended to influence voters.
Sway
(Nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
Influence
The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
I have absolutely no influence over him.
Sway
To rule or govern.
Influence
An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
I'm not able to exercise influence over him.
Sway
To wield, as a weapon or scepter.
Influence
A person or thing exerting such power or action.
He has been a great influence on the voters during the elections.
Sway
The act of moving from side to side with a swinging motion.
Influence
(astrology) An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
Sway
Influence or control
The mayor has a lot of sway in our town.
Influence
(obsolete) The action of flowing in; influx.
Sway
The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
Influence
(electricity) Electrostatic induction.
Sway
A rocking or swinging motion.
The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
Influence
(transitive) To have an effect on by using gentle or subtle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to persuade or induce.
The politician wants to influence the public.
I must admit that this book influenced my outlook on life.
Sway
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
Influence
(intransitive) To exert, make use of one's influence.
Sway
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
Influence
To cause to flow in or into; infuse; instill.
Sway
Rule; dominion; control; power.
Influence
A flowing in or upon; influx.
God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.
Sway
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
Influence
Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which affects, modifies, or sways; as, the influence which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers, of the stars over affairs.
Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
She said : "Ah, dearest lord! what evil starOn you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?"
Sway
The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
Influence
Power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community.
Such influence hath your excellency.
Sway
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
Sway to the music
The trees swayed in the breeze.
Influence
Induction.
Sway
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
To sway the sceptre
Influence
To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to affect; to move; to persuade; to induce.
These experiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air, and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere.
This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend.
The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy.
Sway
To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.
Do you think you can sway their decision?
Influence
A power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc;
Used her parents' influence to get the job
Sway
To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.
Reeds swayed by the wind
Judgment swayed by passion
Influence
Causing something without any direct or apparent effort
Sway
(nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
To sway up the yards
Influence
A cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do;
Her wishes had a great influence on his thinking
Sway
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
Influence
The effect of one thing (or person) on another;
The influence of mechanical action
Sway
To have weight or influence.
Influence
One having power to influence another;
She was the most important influence in my life
He was a bad influence on the children
Sway
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Influence
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Sway
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.
As sparkles from the anvil rise,When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.
Influence
Shape or influence; give direction to;
Experience often determines ability
Mold public opinion
Sway
To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.
The will of man is by his reason swayed.
She could not sway her house.
This was the raceTo sway the world, and land and sea subdue.
Influence
Induce into action by using one's charm;
She charmed him into giving her all his money
Sway
To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.
As bowls run true by being madeOn purpose false, and to be swayed.
Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest.
Sway
To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.
Sway
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
The balance sways on our part.
Sway
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.
Sway
To have weight or influence.
The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much.
Sway
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.
Sway
The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.
With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft.
Sway
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.
Sway
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
ExpertWhen to advance, or stand, or turn the swayOf battle.
Sway
Rule; dominion; control.
When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,The post of honor is a private station.
Sway
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
Sway
Controlling influence
Sway
Pitching dangerously to one side
Sway
Move back and forth or sideways;
The ship was rocking
The tall building swayed
She rocked back and forth on her feet
Sway
Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;
He swung back
Sway
Win approval or support for;
Carry all before one
His speech did not sway the voters
Sway
Cause to move back and forth;
Rock the cradle
Rock the baby
The wind swayed the trees gently
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