persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

persuaded; persuading

transitive verb

1

: to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action

2

: to plead with : urge

persuader noun

Synonyms of persuade

• convince
• satisfy

Examples of persuade in a Sentence

He persuaded his friend to go back to school.

She couldn't be persuaded to go.

He would not let himself be persuaded into buying the more expensive stereo.

I am not easily persuaded.

They persuaded us that we were wrong.

He persuaded himself that he had made the right choice.

Recent Examples on the Web

By late 2015, Musk was persuaded. —Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

And why would a political pro waste time and money soliciting votes from noncitizens when there are millions of legal voters available to persuade? —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

Chan persuaded Tay to go with him to the Buena Park home, where Chan and another teen beat Tay with baseball bats and at one point a sledgehammer while Tay begged for help. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026

Or how – or whether – the United States could persuade Iran to reopen it. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin persuadēre, from per- thoroughly + suadēre to advise, urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for persuade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

persuaded; persuading

: to win over to a belief or to a course of action by argument or earnest request

persuadable

-ˈswād-ə-bəl

adjective

persuader noun