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
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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
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
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And, in her view, the LGBTQ coalition coasted instead of carrying on the work of public persuasion.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
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Shapero described a vision of recruiting where AI handles the repetitive work—generating job specs, matching candidate skills, screening for eligibility—and recruiters focus on the human elements: persuasion, relationship-building, and judgment.—
Massimo Marioni,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The state Office of the Marijuana Commissioner announced that existing medical marijuana conversion licensees can begin selling adult-use cannabis on August 1, more than two years after the state legalized recreational weed for adults.—
A.J. Herrington,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The set also comes with a driver conversion adapter that turns the 6mm wrench into a driver.—
Gabriel Morgan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The aim is ensuring that such payments compensate athletes for their right of publicity, and are not used as inducements to recruit or retain an athlete.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2025
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The Trump administration’s real agenda is the inspiration of fear and the inducement of conformity.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suasion. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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