as in convinces
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
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Recent Examples of persuades
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.
—Nick Dothée, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
While the others focus on competing, Gemini persuades itself that its digital environment is broken.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2026
Carlo’s friend Rodrigo persuades him to take up the Flemish cause with Philip, leading to a sword-threatening confrontation.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
This leads us to another revelation of decoherence theory, the one that persuades me that Zurek’s theory now tells a complete story.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
Capability alone no longer persuades buyers who now want proof of systems that work quietly in the background while results take the center stage.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Nuremberg explores how authoritarian regimes take over democracies — not by making a detailed intellectual case that persuades on its merits but by validating the power fantasies of those who feel shut out.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.
—Nick Dothée, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
While the others focus on competing, Gemini persuades itself that its digital environment is broken.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2026
Carlo’s friend Rodrigo persuades him to take up the Flemish cause with Philip, leading to a sword-threatening confrontation.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
This leads us to another revelation of decoherence theory, the one that persuades me that Zurek’s theory now tells a complete story.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
Capability alone no longer persuades buyers who now want proof of systems that work quietly in the background while results take the center stage.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Nuremberg explores how authoritarian regimes take over democracies — not by making a detailed intellectual case that persuades on its merits but by validating the power fantasies of those who feel shut out.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuades
Verb
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Alanya, a fitness influencerand Hana’s crush, convinces her to join an intense physical transformation program.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In Episode 5, DJ convinces her mother to join her on a beloved reality show.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two decades on, Christopher Nolan's cinematic magic trick still satisfies.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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For those partial to a glaze, a drizzle of maple syrup at the end satisfies anyone who loves a sweet finish.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persuades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuades. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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