as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
no amount of persuading could make her change her mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in satisfying
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persuading
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading).
—Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Scams and malicious actors could be waiting on the other end, with the intent of covertly persuading the call’s recipient to get involved in some kind of scheme.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
But Reform’s popularity has spiked, harnessing anger over the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and dilapidated public services, and increasingly persuading Britons that immigration is to blame.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Perhaps a tougher challenge will be persuading skeptical US politicians of the benefits of Chinese investments; Ford’s multi-year deal with Chinese battery giant CATL to license its technology created a political storm, resulting in wrangles over tax credits and other government incentives.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Of the three Team USA push athletes competing in 2-woman at these Games, Meyers Taylor is responsible for persuading two of them, Jasmine Jones and Jadin O’Brien, to try bobsled.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the economic development agency for Broward, said the biggest challenge is persuading residents of existing neighborhoods that affordable housing projects are positives for the community.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Nationally, Jackson was arrested several times in 2021 during protests aimed at persuading Congress to end the federal legislative filibuster and pass voting rights legislation.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
On July 27, 1942, Blanchardon had no trouble persuading the delegates of the municipal council of Cannes to sign the resolution.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
But Putin cannot have needed much persuading to agree to a formal invitation to the US to have the bilateral meeting his team have long held out as the way towards peace in Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading).
—Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the end, Democratic voters appeared to side with Talarico’s argument that winning in Texas would require not only energizing the base but also persuading voters who have grown uncomfortable with Republican leadership.
—Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Scams and malicious actors could be waiting on the other end, with the intent of covertly persuading the call’s recipient to get involved in some kind of scheme.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
But Reform’s popularity has spiked, harnessing anger over the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and dilapidated public services, and increasingly persuading Britons that immigration is to blame.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Perhaps a tougher challenge will be persuading skeptical US politicians of the benefits of Chinese investments; Ford’s multi-year deal with Chinese battery giant CATL to license its technology created a political storm, resulting in wrangles over tax credits and other government incentives.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Of the three Team USA push athletes competing in 2-woman at these Games, Meyers Taylor is responsible for persuading two of them, Jasmine Jones and Jadin O’Brien, to try bobsled.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the economic development agency for Broward, said the biggest challenge is persuading residents of existing neighborhoods that affordable housing projects are positives for the community.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Nationally, Jackson was arrested several times in 2021 during protests aimed at persuading Congress to end the federal legislative filibuster and pass voting rights legislation.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
On July 27, 1942, Blanchardon had no trouble persuading the delegates of the municipal council of Cannes to sign the resolution.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuading
Verb
-
Trailing in most polls behind a popular center-right challenger, the populist Orbán has staked the election on convincing voters that Ukraine poses an existential threat to Hungary’s security.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Despite the many bold predictions of a financial crisis, the AI industry has held on, successfully convincing investors of the tech’s long-term viability.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brown is challenging the federal government's purchase and conversion of the warehouse.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The county resolution can’t actually prevent the sale or conversion of the warehouse, however.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Replacing the heavy cream with buttermilk creates a velvety and satisfying cheese sauce.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Season seven raises the stakes, deepens the drama, and brings Eliza and Blake’s journey to a thrilling and satisfying close.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To be sure, restricting voting access can negatively impact voters of all political persuasions.—
Celina Stewart,
Time,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Emotional persuasion should never replace transparent information.—
Andrea Levine O’Rourke,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persuading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuading. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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