hold sway

phrase

: to have a dominant influence : rule

Examples of hold sway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The diffusion of power makes a more regionalized world inevitable, and to maintain order in that world, the United States will need to work with China, Russia, and other countries that hold sway in their neighborhoods. — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026 That criminal case shined a spotlight on Miami’s luxury real estate market over which the Alexander brothers held sway until their arrest, trial and convictions. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Regression arrived, and the team held sway through to Game 7 of the final. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 There, the war stoked longtime secessionist sentiments, fronted chiefly by the Southern Transitional Council -- a bloc that until 2025 held sway in the south and was backed by the United Arab Emirates. — David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold sway

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold sway was in 1653

Rhymes for hold sway

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Browse Nearby Words

hold (someone) up to (public) ridicule
hold sway
hold the baby
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold sway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20sway. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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