suasion

1 of 2

noun

sua·​sion ˈswā-zhən 

: the act of influencing or persuading

suasive

ˈswā-siv 

-ziv

adjective

suasively adverb

suasiveness noun

suasive

2 of 2

adjective

sua·​sive ˈswās|iv 

|ēv also -āz| or |əv

: tending to persuade : having a capacity for persuading : persuasive

a suasive speaker

suasive eloquence

suasively

|ə̇vlē, 

-li

adverb

suasiveness

|ivnə̇s, 

|ēv- also |əv-

noun

plural -es

Synonyms of suasion

Noun

• convincing
• persuasion
• conversion
• inducement

Examples of suasion in a Sentence

Noun

a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

All that remains may be the power of public suasion, but Gilead hasn’t demonstrated much sensitivity to such pressure. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

In some circumstances, moral suasion can also be effective. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

In this newest cover-up, Clooney repeats his film’s original failing — its nostalgic salute to the power of electronic media suasion. —Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025

Finally, the original Concert vision embraced formal deliberation and moral suasion as the key mechanism of collaborative foreign policy. —Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin suasion-, suasio, from suadēre to urge, persuade — more at sweet

Adjective

Latin suasus (past participle) + English -ive

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for suasion

• asian
• abrasion
• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• evasion
• invasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• athanasian

Kids Definition

suasion

noun

sua·​sion ˈswā-zhən 

: the act of influencing or persuading

moral suasion