EN

Synonyms for influence

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

interest motive persuade induce effect affect impression impinge

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Interest

interest, persuade, induce, motive, get, urge, drive, incite, tempt, charm, incline, prompt

2. Affect

affect, work, effect, act upon, move

3. Determine

determine, shape, regulate, mold US, mould UK

4. Govern — to have an effect on by using gentle or subtle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway…

govern, militate

Other

impression, lead, impinge, bring around, color US, colour UK, guide, dispose

Noun

power, control, force, sway, authority, action, persuasion, pressure, patronage, prestige, reputation, ascendancy, bias, predominance, weight, potency, impulse, supremacy, hand, rule, mastery, pull informal, bend, reign, management, credit, auspices, stimulus, inflood rare

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To have an effect on by using gentle or subtle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to persuade or induce.

    The politician wants to influence the public.

  2. v. 2

    To exert, make use of one's influence.

  3. n. 1

    The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

    I have absolutely no influence over him.

Related words

Word family
influencer inflood inflow influent influential influenceable influenza
Phrases
influence peddling sphere of influence trading in influence traffic of influence

Forms

Plural
influences → powers, controls, forces, sways…
Past participle
influenced
e.g. influenced → interested, persuaded, induced, motived…

Choose the right word

Influence, Incline, Bend or Persuade?

To incline or influence is to bend another's wishes toward our own; to persuade is to draw them quite over.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • interest The public interest was directed at his judgement.
  • motive Now we are better able to understand their motive.
  • persuade Will it do me any good to try to persuade him now?
  • induce Moderate exercise in the evening helps induce sleep.
  • effect The new medicine demonstrated an immediate effect.
  • affect Petrol prices affect us all in one way or another.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
influencesteady
interestfalling
motivesteady
persuadesteady
inducesteady
effectfalling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
get1
4 letters
work1, hand1, move1, lead1, rule1, pull1, bias2, urge1, bend1, mold1, sway1
5 letters
power2, force1, drive1, color2, guide1, shape1, charm1, reign1, mould1, tempt1
6 letters
action2, effect2, weight1, credit2, affect2, colour2, motive2, prompt1, govern2, induce2, incite2
7 letters
control2, impulse2, mastery3, dispose2, potency3, incline2, impinge2, inflood
8 letters
interest2, pressure2, regulate3, persuade2, prestige2, stimulus3, auspices3, militate3
9 letters
authority4, determine3, supremacy4, patronage3
10 letters
management3, reputation4, impression3, persuasion3, ascendancy4
12 letters
predominance4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (bias2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
influer
Español
influir
Deutsch
beeinflussen
Català
influir