persuasion

noun

per·​sua·​sion pər-ˈswā-zhən 

1

a

: the act or process or an instance of persuading

b

: a persuading argument

c

: the ability to persuade : persuasiveness

2

: the condition of being persuaded

3

a

: an opinion held with complete assurance

b

: a system of religious beliefs

also : a group adhering to a particular system of beliefs

4

: kind, sort

Synonyms

• conversion
• convincing
• inducement
• inducing
• persuading
• suasion

Choose the Right Synonym for persuasion

opinion, view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment mean a judgment one holds as true.

opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

Examples of persuasion in a Sentence

It would take a lot of persuasion to get him to agree to such an offer.

Most kids don't need much persuasion to use computers.

people of all different persuasions

Recent Examples on the Web

Jim Wright, the medical director of Our Lady of Hope Health Center and two other nursing homes in Richmond, Va., said that rewards and respectful persuasion were not enough to sway his homes’ employees. —Tony Leys, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023

McCarthy’s been trying to negotiate around the impasse using the traditional means of persuasion and promises. —WIRED, 26 Sep. 2023

The most critical target for Zelensky’s persuasion would be McCarthy, whose sign-off is necessary to bring supplemental Ukraine funding to a floor vote, but who is in the midst of a battle to hold onto his speakership amid mounting pressure from the hard-right wing of his party. —Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

Since then, commentators of various political and religious persuasions have attributed to scientism a remarkably broad array of problems. —Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 9 Sep. 2023

For those looking for dishes from the hearth not of the bovine persuasion, Garcia is serving up oyster mushroom with black garlic and cambray onion; prawns with aji Amarillo, pineapple, and pichuberry; and half-chicken with roasted shallot, aji verde, and squashini. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2023

To say that many of these films were made with persuasion in mind is not to disparage them. —Mark Harris, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023

The attacks have left many convinced Moscow will continue to target civilians until it is persuaded to end the war, and an offensive weapon like a main battle tank is an excellent tool of persuasion. —Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 6 Sep. 2023

Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Powers of persuasion? —USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English persuasioun, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French persuasion, from Latin persuasion-, persuasio, from persuadēre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing persuasion

• power(s) of persuasion

• power(s) of persuasion

Kids Definition

persuasion

noun

per·​sua·​sion pər-ˈswā-zhən 

1

: the act of persuading

2

: the power or ability to persuade

3

: the state of being persuaded

4

a

: a way of believing

especially : a system of religious beliefs

b

: a group having the same religious beliefs

Medical Definition

persuasion

noun

per·​sua·​sion pər-ˈswā-zhən 

: a method of treating neuroses consisting essentially in rational conversation and reeducation