as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong

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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 suasion All presidents have used leverage, often combined with moral suasion, personal relationships, public appeals, and other efforts, to attain their objectives in international affairs. Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2020 Moral suasion can be even more powerful than policy. Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017 For that change to work, however, politicians and other influential figures will need to use moral suasion to attack the cultural fixation on gaining a four-year degree at any cost. Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017 Some will argue that self-expression is the goal, others moral suasion; some will prefer soft power to storming the barricades and some the reverse. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for suasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suasion
Noun
  • Harnessing her previous courtroom experience, Turner writes with persuasion, every word targeted at the audience.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Soft power is the ability of a country to influence other countries through persuasion and cooperation rather than military or economic force.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • But in certain circumstances, the skin can't keep up with the conversion of sugars on the interior, causing the bananas to split in the process.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 May 2025
  • But the conversion of the space for the three-day event required a massive amount of work to effectively showcase the wide assortment of Italian design, beauty, food, wine and fashion products.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The special inducement is that investors would be relieved of U.S. taxation on their foreign income and no job creation would be required.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suasion. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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