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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In recent decades, Russia has sought to further subordinate these states to Moscow through a combination of persuasion and coercion.—
DANIEL S. HAMILTON,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Aug. 2025
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With three sizes and five colors to choose from, there’s an Express for every persuasion.—
Gracie Wiener,
Air Mail,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The next year, the conversion rate of dollars to gold was set at $35 per ounce, sharply devaluing the currency.—
Kenneth S. Rogoff,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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Investigators seized 287 guns, 147 machine gun conversion devices, and 22 kilograms of cocaine, meth, heroin and fentanyl.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Aug. 2025
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Since the beginning of the movie business, the single best inducement to see movies is trailers in movie theaters.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suasion. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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