convincing 1 of 3

convincing

2 of 3

noun

as in conversion
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action it will take a great deal of convincing to make them see our point of view

Synonyms & Similar Words

convincing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of convince

Synonym Chooser

How is the word convincing different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of convincing are cogent, sound, telling, and valid. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

Where would cogent be a reasonable alternative to convincing?

In some situations, the words cogent and convincing are roughly equivalent. However, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When would sound be a good substitute for convincing?

While in some cases nearly identical to convincing, sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

When can telling be used instead of convincing?

The synonyms telling and convincing are sometimes interchangeable, but telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

When is valid a more appropriate choice than convincing?

The words valid and convincing can be used in similar contexts, but valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent
a valid marriage

Examples 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 convincing
Adjective
Anthony Perkins is a hard act to follow, but Freddie Highmore is convincing as a young Norman, and Vera Farmiga is excellent as his mother Norma. Simon Hill, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024 After a childhood of post-AYSO-practice Double Double cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes, there’s no convincing me and thousands of Angelenos otherwise. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Week 7 will also see the final game in London this season, with the New England Patriots traveling to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, a week after the Jags lost in convincing fashion to the Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ben Morse, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024 As evidenced by the young man’s question, convincing people that inflation is easing is a tough sell. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for convincing 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convincing
Adjective
  • That said, there's a compelling case to stick with it.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
  • So in 2020, THR moved away from writing up the overnights in all but the most compelling of cases.
    James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The key event of Mann’s conversion came in June, when ultranationalists in Berlin murdered his friend Walther Rathenau, the Weimar Republic’s Jewish foreign minister.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Nice drive by Tampa Bay, which took nearly seven minutes off the clock with an 11-play, 70-yard drive that included multiple third-down conversions.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Since Friday, Krause, Anderson ,and Mother Earth Foods are persuading grocery stores like Sam’s Club to redirect perishable foods from their dumpsters to Asheville’s residents.
    Jessica Wakeman, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
  • In addition to persuading Arab countries to immediately adopt a more aggressive posture on enforcing sanctions against Hamas, the Biden administration should push them to publicly call out Sinwar’s obstructionist role in the talks.
    Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Early voting data from Michigan does not include party affiliation but, according to the University of Florida figures, 55 percent of early voters are women — a sign that is hopeful for Harris but not conclusive.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Finally, on early Friday morning, the numbers were conclusive: At 8:50 a.m., Decision Desk HQ became the first organization to call the 2020 presidential race for Joe Biden — a full day before major television networks followed suit.
    Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Attorneys for Taylor, Rodriguez and Lore will need to fashion their arguments and style of persuasion accordingly.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Trump’s convention speech was 35 minutes of persuasion and 60 minutes of fan service.
    Matthew Continetti, National Review, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Its high proof gives it enough backbone to stand up to sweet vermouth and bitters, creating a rich, satisfying Manhattan.
    Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Remember, the key to truly satisfying success lies in not only managing the urgent, but also investing time and energy in what truly matters in the long run.
    Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Verb
  • Nathan MacKinnon had no issues bringing the troubled star back into the fold after two weeks of practice.
    Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Vail Resort will open for skiing on Friday and Purgatory will follow on Saturday, bringing the number of operating ski areas in Colorado to 10.
    John Meyer, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near convincing

Cite this Entry

“Convincing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convincing. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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