as in to convince
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request
she persuaded us that she can indeed communicate with the dead he persuaded his teachers to grant an extension
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of persuade
Seeking eyewitness testimonies, Gordon’s team tracked down Toek Tik, whom the lawyer befriended and ultimately persuaded to talk on the record.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Buckmire said the defense is facing an uphill battle and will likely focus on trying to persuade the jury that Gendron should not be put to death.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Candidates must position themselves as entertainers, performing for voters rather than persuading them.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Our goal was not to persuade or judge, but to figure out why public trust in national institutions has plummeted to historic lows and what might be done to build it back up.
—
Scott Warren,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for persuade
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Buckmire said the defense is facing an uphill battle and will likely focus on trying to persuade the jury that Gendron should not be put to death.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Candidates must position themselves as entertainers, performing for voters rather than persuading them.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Our goal was not to persuade or judge, but to figure out why public trust in national institutions has plummeted to historic lows and what might be done to build it back up.
—
Scott Warren,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for persuade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuade
Verb
-
The mayor, having failed to convince Albany to raise other taxes that matter emotionally to his base, had to make a meager win seem meaningful.
-
Just a few months ago, when more than 60 Labour MPs signed an open letter calling for a social media ban for under-16s, Keir Starmer wasn’t convinced.
Verb
-
But there is a wide variety of products that address different skin concerns, from peptide serums for wrinkles to satisfying face masks to deeply hydrated skin.
-
Treating this as a binary choice means optimizing for one group at the expense of the other, which tends to produce policies that satisfy neither.
Cite this Entry
“Persuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuade. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
