difficult to sway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to sway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is not easily influenced or changed in opinion or behavior. Example: "Despite the numerous arguments presented, she remained difficult to sway on her stance regarding the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But OPEC members are proving difficult to sway.

The New York Times

A more informed and engaged electorate would be more difficult to sway with misleading, fly-by-night blitzes of the sort that hurt Mr. McCain in New York.

The New York Times

Despite the hard realities of public and charter-school budgets, it is rather difficult to sway the public's perception that charter schools are privileged experiments funded by the wealthy and enjoyed by the lucky few.

The Economist

House Republicans, favored to retain control regardless of the presidential and Senate results, have not been part of the Senate talks so far and could be difficult to sway to back a package with significant new revenue even if it wins bipartisan Senate support.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Bloggers like Watts and his readers are, without a doubt, the most difficult people to sway, but one sure way to make them roll their eyes or even laugh at you is to describe everything in hyperbolic terms and heavy-handed apocalypse references.

Vice

Emphasizing that doctors value every baby, he said that when such cases went before a jury it was difficult for doctors to sway an audience naturally sympathetic to the injured party.

The New York Times

"I think that it's pretty difficult to say that anybody (witnessing the interaction) would be swayed by his comments".

Vice

Arab nations that are wary of Iran are among the most difficult critics for Baghdad to sway.

The New York Times

Whether these responses have swayed philosophical opinion in the direction of fair play theory is difficult to say, but they clearly have not settled the debate in its favor.

SEP

But the action had little immediate effect on the yen and could underscore just how difficult it might be for the government to sway the huge foreign exchange market.

The New York Times

Problem is, getting your hands on a customized experimental hammock is about as hard as finding a human down to sway you to sleep in their arms (that is, difficult but not impossible).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing groups or entities, use "difficult to sway" to emphasize their independence and resistance to external pressures. For example, "House Republicans, favored to retain control regardless of the presidential and Senate results, have not been part of the Senate talks so far and could be difficult to sway to back a package with significant new revenue."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to sway" when describing situations that require collaboration or compromise. The phrase implies a level of resistance that might be inappropriate in contexts where flexibility is needed. Instead, consider phrases like "challenging to align" or "requiring careful negotiation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to sway" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a quality of being resistant to influence. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to sway" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe resistance to influence or persuasion. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and appropriate for general use. Its neutral to professional register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific discussions. When using "difficult to sway", consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and whether alternatives like "hard to influence" or "resistant to persuasion" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to influence

Focuses on the action of influencing rather than the result of being swayed.

resistant to persuasion

Emphasizes the act of persuading and the resistance towards it.

not easily convinced

Highlights the challenge in changing someone's belief or opinion.

unlikely to yield

Suggests a firm stance and unwillingness to give in to pressure.

firm in one's convictions

Stresses the strength of one's beliefs, making them hard to change.

steadfast in opinion

Highlights the unwavering nature of one's viewpoint.

resolute in stance

Focuses on the determined nature of one's position.

impervious to suggestion

Emphasizes a lack of susceptibility to external hints or ideas.

unamenable to reason

Highlights a resistance to logical arguments or rational thought.

set in one's ways

Suggests an inflexibility and unwillingness to adopt new habits or ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to sway" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to sway" to describe a person or group that is not easily influenced or persuaded, for example, "The committee proved "difficult to sway" despite the compelling evidence presented".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to sway"?

Alternatives include "hard to influence", "resistant to persuasion", or "not easily convinced" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to sway" or "difficult to influence"?

Both "difficult to sway" and "difficult to influence" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to emphasize. "Difficult to sway" suggests a resistance to being moved from a position, while "difficult to influence" suggests a resistance to having one's actions or decisions affected.

What makes someone "difficult to sway"?

A person might be "difficult to sway" due to strong beliefs, prior commitments, or a general distrust of external influences. Their resistance could stem from logic, emotion or both.