What Is Another Way to Say “At the Mercy Of”?

Looking for synonyms for at the mercy of? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say at the mercy of.

  • Subject to
  • At the whim of
  • Under the control of
  • In the hands of
  • At the discretion of
  • Dependent on
  • Beholden to
  • Vulnerable to
  • Controlled by
  • Under the sway of
  • Susceptible to
  • At the behest of
  • Under the influence of
  • In the power of
  • At the will of

Want to learn how to say at the mercy of professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Subject to

When to use: Suitable for situations where actions or outcomes are contingent on other factors or authorities.
Example: “The project’s timeline is subject to approval from the board.”

2. At the Whim of

When to use: Appropriate for situations where outcomes are unpredictably determined by someone’s or something’s unpredictable decisions or desires.
Example: “Market prices are often at the whim of global events.”

3. Under the Control of

When to use: Ideal for circumstances where someone or something has direct authority or governance over another.
Example: “The department is under the control of the new manager.”

4. In the Hands of

When to use: Used to indicate that the outcome or decision is determined by another party or factor.
Example: “The final decision on the investment is in the hands of the CEO.”

5. At the Discretion of

When to use: Suitable for situations where decisions or actions are left to someone’s judgment or choice.
Example: “Funding allocations are at the discretion of the finance committee.”

6. Dependent on

When to use: Appropriate when outcomes or situations rely on specific conditions or other parties.
Example: “Success in this market is highly dependent on consumer trends.”

7. Beholden to

When to use: Ideal for situations where there is an obligation or dependence on someone or something.
Example: “The company is beholden to its shareholders for strategic decisions.”

8. Vulnerable to

When to use: Used to describe a situation where there is susceptibility or risk due to external factors.
Example: “Small businesses are often vulnerable to economic fluctuations.”

9. Controlled by

When to use: Suitable for circumstances where there is direct governance or influence by another party.
Example: “Inventory levels are controlled by the supply chain management system.”

10. Under the Sway of

When to use: Appropriate for situations influenced or dominated by someone or something.
Example: “Public opinion is often under the sway of media coverage.”

11. Susceptible to

When to use: Ideal for conditions or situations that are easily influenced or harmed by external factors.
Example: “The agricultural sector is highly susceptible to changes in weather patterns.”

12. At the Behest of

When to use: Used to indicate actions taken on someone’s request or command.
Example: “The audit was conducted at the behest of the regulatory agency.”

13. Under the Influence of

When to use: Suitable for situations where decisions or actions are affected by external factors.
Example: “The market trends are often under the influence of geopolitical events.”

14. In the Power of

When to use: Appropriate for situations where control or authority is held by someone or something.
Example: “The fate of the project is in the power of the funding agency.”

15. At the Will of

When to use: Used to indicate a situation that is determined or governed by someone’s decisions or desires.
Example: “Employee benefits are often at the will of company policies.”

Linda Brown