Definition of persuade
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
nounRead the Latest from M-W
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 of persuade from the Web
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In June, Trump reportedly considered firing the special counsel from the Russia investigation, only to be persuaded against it by virtually all of his closest advisers.
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Frustrated, the actor decided to cut his losses and leave town – but was persuaded to stay by his backers, who assured him of their support and a safe stage.
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No Democrat on the scene today possesses the Lincolnesque political skills to persuade liberal voters to give up their assumptions of white deplorability, endorse assimilation, or back traditional civics education.
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However, activists are organizing to persuade Minnesota officials to deny the permit for the pipeline and stop the project.
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Green and his attorneys have long argued that Demery killed Jordan and persuaded Green to come help him dispose of the body in a nearby swamp.
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Others were persuaded by pro-business associations and a major anti-abortion group, which represent huge GOP constituencies.
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Reports from jurors have differed, with some saying that the panel of 12 had been totally split, and another suggesting that Mr. Cosby narrowly escaped conviction because of two holdouts who could not be persuaded of his guilt.
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On Monday, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it was not persuaded by arguments made by Matthew Keys’ defense attorneys.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'persuade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of persuade
Latin persuadēre, from per- thoroughly + suadēre to advise, urge — more at sweet
PERSUADE Defined for English Language Learners
persuade
playDefinition of persuade for English Language Learners
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: to cause (someone) to do something by asking, arguing, or giving reasons
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: to cause (someone) to believe something
PERSUADE Defined for Kids
Learn More about persuade
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See words that rhyme with persuade Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for persuade Spanish Central: Translation of persuade Nglish: Translation of persuade for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of persuade for Arabic speakers
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