influence
Other forms: influences; influenced; influencing
Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way.
Sometimes a person who influences another doesn't intend to have any effect, but sometimes they are using influence to benefit themselves. An example of a personal benefit or advantage would be the use of political influence. Influence is also a verb, from Latin influere to flow in.
Definitions of influence
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a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc“used her parents' influence to get the job”
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dead hand, dead hand of the past, mortmain
the oppressive influence of past events or decisions
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force
a powerful effect or influence
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grasp, grip
an intellectual hold or understanding
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tentacle
something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold
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pressure
a force that compels
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duress
compulsory force or threat
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heartbeat
an animating or vital unifying force
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lifeblood
an essential or life-giving force
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wheel
forces that provide energy and direction
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type of:
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power, powerfulness
possession of controlling influence
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causing something without any direct or apparent effort
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cross-pollination
stimulating influence among diverse elements
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exposure
the act of subjecting someone to an influencing experience
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encroachment, impact, impingement
the act or state of having strong influence
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manipulation, use
exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage
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hypnotism, mesmerism, suggestion
the act of inducing hypnosis
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enticement, temptation
the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire
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overexposure
the act of exposing someone excessively to an influencing experience
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underexposure
inadequate publicity
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mind game
deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse (usually for competitive advantage)
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blandishment, wheedling
the act of urging by means of teasing or flattery
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leading astray, leading off
the act of enticing others into sinful ways
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seduction
enticing someone astray from right behavior
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allurement, solicitation
the act of enticing a person to do something wrong (as an offer of sex in return for money)
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one having power to influence another“she was the most important influence in my life”“he was a bad influence on the children”
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synonyms:
influencer
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a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do“her wishes had a great influence on his thinking”
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imponderable
a factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed
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imprint
a distinctive influence
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morale builder
something or someone who influences by building or strengthening morale
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canker, pestilence
a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
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support
something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest
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enticement, temptation
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
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anchor, backbone, keystone, linchpin, lynchpin, mainstay
a central cohesive source of support and stability
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lifeline
support that enables people to survive or to continue doing something (often by providing an essential connection)
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forbidden fruit
originally an apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden; it is now used to refer to anything that is tempting but dangerous (as sexuality)
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bait, come-on, hook, lure, sweetener
anything that serves as an enticement
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allurement
attractiveness
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leaven, leavening
an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something
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type of:
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causal factor, determinant, determinative, determiner, determining factor
a determining or causal element or factor
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the effect of one thing (or person) on another“the influence of mechanical action”
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perturbation
(physics) a secondary influence on a system that causes it to deviate slightly
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purchase
a means of exerting influence or gaining advantage
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wind
a tendency or force that influences events
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variation
(astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)
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have and exert influence or effect“The artist's work influenced the young painter”
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prejudice, prepossess
influence (somebody's) opinion in advance
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form, imprint
establish or impress firmly in the mind
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militate
have force or influence; bring about an effect or change
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manipulate, pull strings, pull wires
influence or control shrewdly or deviously
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color, colour
modify or bias
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swing, swing over
influence decisively
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blackjack, blackmail, pressure
exert pressure on someone through threats
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carry, persuade, sway
win approval or support for
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get at
influence by corruption
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fix
influence an event or its outcome by illegal means
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dominate
be in control
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bias, predetermine
cause to be biased
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bias
influence in an unfair way
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overbear
overcome
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possess
enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas
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shape or influence; give direction to
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dispose, incline
make receptive or willing towards an action or attitude or belief
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disincline, indispose
make unwilling
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miscreate
shape or form or make badly
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carry weight
have influence to a specified degree
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decide
influence or determine
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reshape
shape anew or differently
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time
set the speed, duration, or execution of
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index
adjust through indexation
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pace
regulate or set the pace of
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predetermine
determine beforehand
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predispose
make susceptible
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foreordain, predestine, preordain
foreordain or determine beforehand
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foreordain, predestinate, predestine
foreordain by divine will or decree
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induce into action by using one's charm
Pronunciation
US
/ˈɪnflʊəns/
UK
/ˈɪnfluəns/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘influence'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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