sway

to move or swing to and fro, as something fixed at one end or resting on a support.

Synonyms:

wave

to move or incline to one side or in a particular direction.

to incline in opinion, sympathy, tendency, etc..

She swayed toward conservatism.

Synonyms:

tend, bend, lean

to fluctuate or vacillate, as in opinion.

His ideas swayed this way and that.

to wield power; exercise rule.

to cause to move to and fro or to incline from side to side.

to cause to move to one side or in a particular direction.

Nautical. to hoist or raise (a yard, topmast, or the like) (usually followed byup ).

to cause to fluctuate or vacillate.

to cause (the mind, emotions, etc., or a person) to incline or turn in a specified way; influence.

to cause to swerve, as from a purpose or a course of action.

He swayed them from their plan.

to dominate; direct.

to wield, as a weapon or scepter.

to rule; govern.

(usually intr) to swing or cause to swing to and fro

(usually intr) to lean or incline or cause to lean or incline to one side or in different directions in turn

(usually intr) to vacillate or cause to vacillate between two or more opinions

to be influenced or swerve or influence or cause to swerve to or from a purpose or opinion

(tr) nautical to hoist (a yard, mast, or other spar)

archaic to rule or wield power (over)

archaic (tr) to wield (a weapon)