as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
no amount of persuading could make her change her mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in satisfying
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request
she persuaded us that she can indeed communicate with the dead he persuaded his teachers to grant an extension
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 persuading
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2025
The Bears don’t appear to be having much trouble persuading offensive players to come to Chicago after hiring Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Grant said despite the financial and efficiency gains AI can offer organizations, persuading leadership to spend major dollars on such initiatives can still prove trying.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2025
Lots of foreign funds charge 2% or more, including the money handed over to the stockbrokers for persuading you to buy these funds.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Kiribati is so remote and spread out that travelling pretty much anywhere is prohibitively expensive as well as logistically difficult, as is persuading anyone else to get themselves over for a game.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Palace would ideally need a figure whose prowess is identifying new signings, or pinpointing potential that can be shaped, and persuading that talent to move to Selhurst Park.
—Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Todd Shapiro, a PR veteran recently tapped as Adams’ reelection effort spokesman on a volunteer basis, didn’t comment directly on the latest fundraising filing Tuesday, but said his team is focused on persuading the Campaign Finance Board to reverse its decision to deny the mayor matching funds.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Friedrich Merz and his prospective coalition partner the SPD’s plan to boost infrastructure spending and soften the debt brake treatment of defence spending rested on persuading the current parliament (in place till 23 March) to vote through the new measures.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
The agency has sued companies for persuading veterans to sell their pension and disability payments, for charging military families more than thirty-six per cent interest on pawn loans, and for misleading servicemembers to take costly cash-out refinance loans on their homes.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2025
The Bears don’t appear to be having much trouble persuading offensive players to come to Chicago after hiring Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Grant said despite the financial and efficiency gains AI can offer organizations, persuading leadership to spend major dollars on such initiatives can still prove trying.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2025
Lots of foreign funds charge 2% or more, including the money handed over to the stockbrokers for persuading you to buy these funds.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Kiribati is so remote and spread out that travelling pretty much anywhere is prohibitively expensive as well as logistically difficult, as is persuading anyone else to get themselves over for a game.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Palace would ideally need a figure whose prowess is identifying new signings, or pinpointing potential that can be shaped, and persuading that talent to move to Selhurst Park.
—Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Todd Shapiro, a PR veteran recently tapped as Adams’ reelection effort spokesman on a volunteer basis, didn’t comment directly on the latest fundraising filing Tuesday, but said his team is focused on persuading the Campaign Finance Board to reverse its decision to deny the mayor matching funds.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Friedrich Merz and his prospective coalition partner the SPD’s plan to boost infrastructure spending and soften the debt brake treatment of defence spending rested on persuading the current parliament (in place till 23 March) to vote through the new measures.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuading
Verb
-
Rivers insisted Monday that there are different ways of convincing a team its record is not reflective of its abilities.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In their calculation, their chances of reversing vaccine injury with unsupported, experimental treatments are better than convincing policy makers to care for disabled people.—
Catherine Tan,
TIME,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Big chances have almost doubled (1.5 per match to 3), as has Everton’s big-chance conversion rate (21 per cent to 41 per cent).—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
These improvements are likely to boost conversion rates, increase average order values, and improve advertising efficiency both on Amazon’s platform and beyond.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The successful outcome for Perpetua Resources is especially impressive given the complex nature of the federal, state, and local permitting process, as well as the work involved in satisfying the concerns of local communities and the Nez Perz Tribe.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
The rich palate has tons of depth, a delightful blend of root sweetness, and a long, satisfying finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The decline and eventual abolition of slavery has been portrayed as the result of tireless activism and moral persuasion by early Quaker advocates like Benjamin Lay who considered slavery one of the worst sins.—
Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick,
The Conversation,
4 Apr. 2025
-
With skepticism rising, brands must prioritize education over persuasion.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persuading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuading. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share