1
as in sway
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
a mayor who doesn't hesitate to use her influence to get business leaders behind civic improvements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effect
the power to bring about a result on another
the basic premise of astrology is that the position of the stars has an influence on human affairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response
the news reports of the devastating flood influenced a great many people to make contributions for food and supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of influence
Connie Ogle
july 14, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
According to Amex, 43 percent of Gen Z and Millennials say tennis influences their personal style; 41 percent already accessorize with charms, and 61 percent are styling trainers with smart looks this summer.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Noun
The design features Mediterranean influences — stone, tall archways, gold metallic mesh draped from the ceiling —and a 33-foot bar area.
—Connie Ogle
july 14, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Verb
Edward Kelley, 36, was found guilty in November 2024 and sentenced on July 2 for his charges of conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing a federal official by threat.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
According to Amex, 43 percent of Gen Z and Millennials say tennis influences their personal style; 41 percent already accessorize with charms, and 61 percent are styling trainers with smart looks this summer.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for influence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influence
Noun
-
The world's wealthy are seeking cutting-edge retail experiences, but the personal touch of interacting with their favorite luxury stores still holds ultimate sway.—
Forbes Research,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Motorola, with its back-in-the-pack position and the uncertainty about whether its new Moto X phone would be a hit, had little sway in comparison.—
Verne Kopytoff,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
The watch will remain in effect until 7 p.m. with up to 10 inches possible, the National Weather Service said in an alert.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
Map shows where a flood watch is in effect in central Texas Monday, July 7, 2025.—
July 7,
CBS News,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
The search area has been expanded from Kerr County to include San Saba and Burnet counties, which were also affected by the flooding, officials said Sunday.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
6 July 2025
-
Intimate partner violence affects as many as 10 million Americans every year.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
The key is knowing which names have real leverage to that shift and which are simply cyclical placeholders.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Leagues should try using their leverage to demand an end to these kinds of within-game wagers, which seem like a shameless come-on for those who are addiction-prone. .—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Research consistently shows that leaders who stay calm and composed in high-pressure situations have a significant impact on team outcomes.—
Rhett Power,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
-
But city leaders do not believe the impacts necessitate declaring a state of emergency, which would redirect city workers to pick up residents’ trash.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
One who has yet to impress much, however, is Venables.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
10 July 2025
-
Despite the needle moving back to middle ground between hawks and doves on the FOMC, economists weren’t impressed by the developments.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Traditional acquisitions would face months of review, public disclosure, and potential blocking by antitrust authorities.—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Brianna Moore was arrested in Missouri in October 2024, months after a deceased newborn was allegedly found wrapped in a bloody towel in her dorm bathroom at the Tampa, Fla., campus, Hillsborough County authorities said at the time.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influence. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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