What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Ripple vs Sway - What's the difference?

ripple | sway |

As nouns the difference between ripple and sway

is that ripple is a moving disturbance or undulation in the surface of a liquid while sway is the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.

As verbs the difference between ripple and sway

is that ripple is to move like the undulating surface of a body of water; to undulate while sway is to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

ripple

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A moving disturbance or undulation in the surface of a liquid.
  • I dropped a small stone into the pond and watched the ripples .
  • A sound similar to that of undulating water.
  • A style of ice cream in which flavors have been coarsely blended together.
  • I enjoy fudge ripple''' ice cream, but I especially like to dig through the carton to get at the '''ripple part and eat only that.
  • (electronics) A small oscillation of an otherwise steady signal.
  • An implement, with teeth like those of a comb, for removing the seeds and seed vessels from flax, broom corn, etc.
  • Verb

  • To move like the undulating surface of a body of water; to undulate.
  • To propagate like a moving wave.
  • * 2008 , Bradley Simpson, Economists with Guns , page 65:
  • These problems were complicated by a foreign exchange crunch which rippled through the economy in 1961-1962, [...].
  • To make a sound as of water running gently over a rough bottom, or the breaking of ripples on the shore.
  • To remove the seeds from (the stalks of flax, etc.), by means of a ripple.
  • (by extension) To scratch or tear.
  • (Holland)

    Anagrams

    *

    sway

    English

    (wikipedia sway)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
  • A rocking or swinging motion.
  • The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
  • Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.
  • I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
  • Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
  • Rule; dominion; control.
  • A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
  • The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.
  • To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
  • :
  • *(Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • *:As sparkles from the anvil rise, / When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed .
  • To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade .
  • :
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:This was the race / To sway the world, and land and sea subdue.
  • To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.
  • :
  • *(John Tillotson) (1630-1694)
  • *:Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest.
  • (lb) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
  • :
  • To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:The balance sways on our part.
  • To have weight or influence.
  • *(Richard Hooker) (1554-1600)
  • *:The example of sundry churchesdoth sway much.
  • To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.
  • See also

    * persuade