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

Pollock persuaded Cineplex Odeon to invest in the film, limiting Universal’s risk. —Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Turns out Raman’s campaign was trying to persuade her to pull the plug as well. —Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

Some laughed as their classmates persuaded them. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 29 May 2026

Under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), employers are required to disclose money spent on consultants hired to persuade or not persuade employees to organize and engage in collective bargaining. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 28 May 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