as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suasion
For that change to work, however, politicians and other influential figures will need to use moral suasion to attack the cultural fixation on gaining a four-year degree at any cost.
—
Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
Some will argue that self-expression is the goal, others moral suasion; some will prefer soft power to storming the barricades and some the reverse.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
Read More: Believing Myths About Aging Makes Growing Old Worse
Initially, their belief in moral suasion worked.
—Rebecca Brannon / Made By History, TIME, 3 July 2024
In this brilliant new look at the destruction of slavery during the American Civil War, Oakes reveals how the U.S. abolitionist movement relied not only on high-minded moral suasion but also on the small-bore legalistic strategy of the Republican Party.
—James Oakes, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2012
See All Example Sentences for suasion
Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
Some will argue that self-expression is the goal, others moral suasion; some will prefer soft power to storming the barricades and some the reverse.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
Read More: Believing Myths About Aging Makes Growing Old Worse
Initially, their belief in moral suasion worked.
—Rebecca Brannon / Made By History, TIME, 3 July 2024
In this brilliant new look at the destruction of slavery during the American Civil War, Oakes reveals how the U.S. abolitionist movement relied not only on high-minded moral suasion but also on the small-bore legalistic strategy of the Republican Party.
—James Oakes, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2012
See All Example Sentences for suasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suasion
Noun
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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
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With skepticism rising, brands must prioritize education over persuasion.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Along with being able to use a TIF as an inducement to development, the village wants to use it to create stormwater storage capacity at the mall.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
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Howe’s inducement certainly worked.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suasion. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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