persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

persuaded; persuading

transitive verb

1

: to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action

2

: to plead with : urge

persuader noun

Synonyms

• argue
• bring
• bring around
• convert
• convince
• gain
• get
• induce
• move
• prevail (on or upon)
• satisfy
• talk (into)
• win (over)

Examples of persuade in a Sentence

He persuaded his friend to go back to school.

She couldn't be persuaded to go.

He would not let himself be persuaded into buying the more expensive stereo.

I am not easily persuaded.

They persuaded us that we were wrong.

He persuaded himself that he had made the right choice.

Recent Examples on the Web

In this capacity, the Chinese leadership can—and must—lead a collective effort to persuade Russia to secure its vulnerable warheads, drawing on its own expanding bilateral relationship with Moscow. —William M. Moon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024

And Arizona Democrats are running against her with much of the same rhetoric that persuaded voters to reject her two years ago. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Professor Frink enlists Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, who are immune from the burp clouds, to persuade their father to help with a cure. —Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

This could persuade voters who support fair districts to vote against the amendment; there have already been anecdotal reports of voters intending to vote for Issue 1 but getting confused by the ballot language in the voting booth and voting against it instead. —Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin persuadēre, from per- thoroughly + suadēre to advise, urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

persuaded; persuading

: to win over to a belief or to a course of action by argument or earnest request

persuadable

-ˈswād-ə-bəl

adjective

persuader noun