1
as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
the suffragists' gradual persuasion of the American people that voting rights had to be extended to women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in religion
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities
debating theology with someone of a different persuasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in belief
an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge
he's of the persuasion that everything that happens in this world is part of a divine plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
there was an inherent persuasion in his sonorous voice that made listeners put aside any misgivings about his message
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 persuasion
Lawyers for the Biden administration have said there is a difference between legitimate persuasion and inappropriate coercion, and that communication channels between government and social media companies had to remain open for public safety reasons.
—
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
The human side of the Trust Stack is where persuasion and relationships take center stage.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
The first rule of telling and listening to stories is to strive for understanding, not persuasion.
—Kurt Gray, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
Alas, Ground News is merely a resource, not a platform for debate and persuasion.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persuasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuasion
Noun
-
This week, West was hit with a fresh lawsuit from a Yeezy staffer who filed a complaint naming the company and rapper, stating that she was subjected to discrimination, harassment and retaliation because of her gender and Jewish religion.—
-
The shifting role of religion in this historic region is embodied in the monumental Hagia Sophia, perhaps Istanbul’s most famous landmark and tourist destination.—
Noun
-
This team looked dead and buried midway through the second half, their miserable performance having been utterly bereft of energy and belief.—
-
But optimism, the belief that things can improve, and progress is possible, can be a powerful antidote to this struggle.—
Noun
-
In a sales scenario, for example, if a lead regularly visits the company's blog or engages with emails, AI agents can assign a score indicating a greater likelihood of interest and, ultimately, a higher chance of conversion.—
-
The city has offered perks for building owners who apply for office-to-housing conversions, but many office spaces remain available.—
Noun
-
It’s gone on to become a cult classic and was selected to be preserved in the National Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.—
-
Many movies about the Manson cult focus on him or his victims.—
Noun
-
The very nature of social media drives polarizing opinions, but for properties that spread to sections of society that aren’t entirely online, much of this discussion and controversy can be easily ignored.—
-
His case has divided public opinion and became a focus point for arguments about what prosecutors should disclose at trial.—
Noun
-
Quieting your mind stimulates the part of your brain that dampens the surges of adrenaline and cortisol accompanying stress. 3.—
-
The Badgers, meanwhile, had been on fire lately and had ascended to a bona fide Final Four contender in the minds of many.—
Noun
-
His younger sisters, ages 12 and 13, were too afraid to ever leave — as was the boy — because their mother had instructed them to never answer the door or go outside, authorities said.—
-
Bridgewater Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau is investigating the crash with Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, authorities said.—
Noun
-
In the view of Trump’s critics, this is precisely what has occurred.—
-
This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.—
Cite this Entry
“Persuasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuasion. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share