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
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun persuasion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of persuasion are belief, conviction, opinion, sentiment, and view. While all these words mean "a judgment one holds as true," persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

When might belief be a better fit than persuasion?

In some situations, the words belief and persuasion are roughly equivalent. However, belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

When could conviction be used to replace persuasion?

The meanings of conviction and persuasion largely overlap; however, conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

When is opinion a more appropriate choice than persuasion?

The words opinion and persuasion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

Where would sentiment be a reasonable alternative to persuasion?

The synonyms sentiment and persuasion are sometimes interchangeable, but sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

When can view be used instead of persuasion?

The words view and persuasion can be used in similar contexts, but view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

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 persuasion Now, the campaign is treating them as persuasion targets as much as mobilization targets. Charlotte Alter/philadelphia, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 In the next few days, the effort is to focus on the final stages of their persuasion campaign. NBC News, 20 Oct. 2024 Instead of trying to embed new cultures through training and persuasion rhetoric, let’s engineer culture change in the simplest way: through changing working practices. Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024 Decent, good-hearted people of all political persuasions can join together with their fellow Americans to repudiate fear-mongering and scapegoating by voting in massive numbers for Democrats up and down the ballot. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for persuasion 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuasion
Noun
  • Besides working from home more often, U.S. adults are also staying inside more to do other outside-the-home activities, like practicing religion, eating, and drinking.
    Maggie O'Neill, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Simone’s anger and frustration transcend race, nationality, religion, any boundaries, to just be a plea for humanity.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • And that can ease the terror of mortality by connecting people to an enduring and comforting web of ideas and beliefs that transcend one’s own existence.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The enthusiastic turnout demonstrates that the public still holds a strong belief and the purpose of our elections.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Harrow, one of the main characters, is a nun devoted to John’s necromantic death cult.
    Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Because for nearly a decade, it’s been almost impossible to change the belief and vote of a certain kind of voter — the type ensnared by the right-wing propaganda woven into the cult of Trump.
    Natasha Stoynoff, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But, as usual, opponents are swimming against the tide of public opinion.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
  • John Mulaney’s focus is on his life, his history, and his most mundane opinions.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Whether or not candidates were backed by pro-charter groups or supported the growth of charter schools in IPS was not top of mind with some voters in Indianapolis.
    Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Anyone who has experienced conflict firsthand (and that’s just about everybody) knows it is felt in both body and mind.
    Andrea Kane, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Pay attention and refuse to give anyone authority to decide for you.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • But the last time the FCC did that without first classifying ISPs as common carriers, back in late 2010, an appeals court upheld a challenge by Verizon, holding that the commission had no such authority without a Title II foundation.
    Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The drones and robots are outfitted with hidden cameras so researchers can get an up-close view of live critters without a noticeable human presence.
    Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
  • After this initial puzzlement, I got used to switching to Edit view quickly.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near persuasion

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on persuasion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!