powerful sway

USAGE SUMMARY

"powerful sway" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a strong influence or control over someone or something. For example: "The leader had a powerful sway over the decisions made in the council." Alternative expressions include "strong influence" and "significant control."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Africa holds powerful sway in FIFA.

The New York Times - Sports

Surrealism held powerful sway over Cornell.

The New York Times

Nostalgia holds powerful sway over these pictures.

The New York Times

CHINA has long held powerful sway over Canada's development.

The Economist

Originalism now holds powerful sway in the broader Republican Party.

The New Yorker

When it comes to how long we live, nurture holds powerful sway over nature.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

What I believe is that the only way to make sure that sort of atrocity does not happen again is to make sure we don't do it to anyone else.' To this end, Mosley seems to have come to a conclusion roughly similar to Naomi No Logo Kleinin's, citing the all-powerful sway of corporate America as 'the antithesis of democracy as it is defined in the constitution'.

The Guardian

Here and there in their unexpectedly engrossing history, fruits have held as powerful a sway over man as has gold or myrrh.

The New York Times - Books

Moscow exerts powerful cultural sway over its former colonies, and the Kremlin's anti-western, family-values agenda chimes with conservative social attitudes already prevalent in the region.

The Guardian

In the case of this London duo — Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey — it's the 1980s that hold such powerful, totalizing sway, providing a template and raw material for dreamy, lighthearted, synth-thick pop that lands with a punch.

The New York Times - Arts

It seems an eternity ago, though it was just a few seasons back, that a movie as sexually detonating as Luis Buñuel's "Belle du Jour" held fashion under so powerful a sway.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like "hold", "exert", "wield" or "exercise" for the most natural collocations in professional writing.

Common error

Do not mistake the noun phrase "powerful sway" for the adverbial construction "powerfully sway". While "they hold a "powerful sway" over voters" describes a state of influence, "the speaker can powerfully sway the crowd" describes the act of changing someone's mind. Ensure you use the adjective form when describing a noun.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "powerful sway" serves to quantify and describe the extent of influence or control. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often acts as the direct object of verbs such as "hold" or "exert". The adjective "powerful" intensifies the noun "sway", indicating that the influence is not merely present but dominant.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Wiki

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "powerful sway" is a robust and evocative phrase used to describe significant influence or control. Analysis by Ludwig AI shows that it is a preferred choice for professional writers and academics when discussing power dynamics, historical trends or psychological effects. It is almost always used correctly in conjunction with verbs of possession or exertion. Whether you are describing how nurture holds "powerful sway" over nature or how a lobby group influences legislation, this phrase provides a level of descriptive depth that simpler alternatives like "power" or "impact" may lack. It is a highly recommended addition to a formal writing vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable influence

Uses a more common adjective to describe a similar level of effect.

significant leverage

Implies a strategic advantage or a tool used to achieve a specific result.

substantial impact

A broader term that describes the change caused rather than the power held.

formidable grip

Suggests a much firmer or more restrictive type of control.

immense control

Directly names the power as control, removing the nuance of 'sway'.

great authority

Focuses on the formal or recognized right to exercise power.

potent effect

Focuses on the outcome or result rather than the ongoing state of influence.

dominant position

Describes the status of the entity rather than the nature of the influence.

commanding presence

Relates more to an individual or entity's visibility and authority.

major pull

A more informal way to describe the ability to attract or influence others.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "powerful sway"?

Depending on your context, you can use terms like "considerable influence", "significant leverage" or "formidable grip".

How do I use "powerful sway" in a sentence?

It is typically used as the object of a verb. For example: "The oil industry holds "powerful sway" over national energy policies."

What is the difference between "powerful sway" and "strong influence"?

While both mean having a major effect, "strong influence" is a more general term, whereas "powerful sway" often implies a more persuasive, rhythmic or controlling movement in the target's behavior or beliefs.

Is "powerful sway" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, it is highly suitable for academic and professional contexts. Data from Ludwig shows it is frequently used by researchers at institutions like Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University.