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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 Donald Trump - The persuasion window for Donald Trump has closed. NBC News, 20 Oct. 2024 Fortunately, that responsibility fell on the shoulders of someone with proficiency in performance, persuasion, and the actor feat besides: voice director Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2024 Attorneys for Taylor, Rodriguez and Lore will need to fashion their arguments and style of persuasion accordingly. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Mercury enters Sagittarius, sharpening your powers of persuasion. USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for persuasion 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuasion
Noun
  • The curse of religion is that its faithful cannot learn objective lessons from the evidence before them.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
  • And how does that square with the violence of organized religion?
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Other studies suggest peer support fosters belonging, community, social connectedness, resilience, belief in oneself, hope, and empowerment—all of which can contribute to overall well-being, even if those attributes are harder to measure than clinical symptoms.
    Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
  • This new second film is a story of fraternal bonds, community, belief, and care, told through the world of horses and men.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • This level of specificity leads to higher conversion rates and improved return on investment (ROI).
    Jon Jacobson, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The filing also details various financial agreements, including debt conversion agreements and convertible note agreements.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The original film premiered to rave reviews in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006 and went on to gain cult status after its releases in Australia and New Zealand, the UK (Icon), and the US (IFC and Dimension).
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The track comes from The Nightmare Before Christmas, the stop-motion claymation movie that’s become not just a cult classic, but a commercial success story every year.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 1 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
  • Danson now stars in Netflix’s A Man on the Inside, which comes from the mind of Mike Schur, who is better known for creating The Office, co-creating Parks and Recreation, and then Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 22 Nov. 2024
  • When Lindsay Gottlieb thinks back to the start, before USC was about to become the biggest thing in women’s college basketball — and maybe college basketball overall — her mind travels to a phone call three and a half years ago.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Trump could use the executive branch’s authority to rescind certain proposals.
    Li Zhou, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
  • As the city has jurisdiction over the rates and services the utility provides, Bee Cave has the authority to approve or deny the request for the city’s service area, according to what Brocato told the City Council in June.
    Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 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
  • Some on the far left view a second Trump term as an existential crisis and likely will be motivated to take to the streets to protest.
    Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 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 28 Nov. 2024.

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