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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 Sales and Negotiation While AI transforms many aspects of business, the uniquely human arts of persuasion and relationship-building command ever-higher premiums. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 In some cases, persuasion and affinity simply aren’t enough to overcome national security concerns. Matthew Clary, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025 Rather than a heated exchange, a calm act of reasoned persuasion ensues. Lauren Wissot, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025 All of which is to say, Cooper is very good at playing someone adept at persuasion, either through intimidation or guile. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for persuasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuasion
Noun
  • The university said his areas of interest include religion, violence and peace processes in the Middle East and South Asia.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The university said his areas of interest include religion, violence and peace processes in South Asia and the Middle East.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The belief in twin flames has been around for centuries, since ancient Greece at least.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The secular mindset that emerged from the Enlightenment — the belief that religion would fade while science delivered heaven on earth — has failed.
    Mike Woodruff, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
  • Think of the cults, the divorce lawyers, the groupies, the scale of the cosmetics industry, the sports cars.
    Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
  • These are people who are in something very close to a cult, which has such a strong pull on them.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • According to Gallup, globally only one in four employees strongly agree their opinions count at work.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Thomas’ favorite parts about leading tours are meeting different kinds of people and watching anyone with a negative or preconceived notion about certain parts of Chicago change their opinion over the course of a tour.
    Shanzeh Ahmad, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The caverns of the mind and spirit are appealing as Neptune moves into Aries.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
  • That’s one thing that comes to mind, the folks whose daily lives are being impacted by transportation.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Margarita Avila, a landscaper, is currently in the custody of federal immigration authorities.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Federal authorities on Sunday were investigating the fiery crash of a small plane into a suburban Minneapolis home that killed all aboard and engulfed the house in flames.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In such a world view, American money should support Americans—leaving other countries to their own devices.
    Justin Worland/Bridgetown, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The video closes with the package delivery confirmation photo Agati received from the driver, which features a beaming Frank standing beside the box The precious clip now has over 13.9 million views on TikTok and has inspired thousands of comments.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Persuasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuasion. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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