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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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/
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