as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
no amount of persuading could make her change her mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in satisfying
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request
she persuaded us that she can indeed communicate with the dead he persuaded his teachers to grant an extension
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 persuading
Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Each distortion is what happens when the body does the persuading, and the ideas are just the wardrobe.
—Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
But Putin cannot have needed much persuading to agree to a formal invitation to the US to have the bilateral meeting his team have long held out as the way towards peace in Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading).
—Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Flock has become increasingly controversial, with communities across the country persuading their local governments to cancel their contracts, though the number is still dwarfed by how many cities renew their agreements with Flock every year.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
Often, threats of family separation work hand in hand with medical neglect, Juburi told me, persuading families to accept deportation.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
That would involve changing some state laws, persuading housing lenders to be more accommodating and overcoming resistance from construction unions.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Ever since the first caveman tricked his neighbor into trading a pile of rocks for some tasty mastodon steaks, con men have been persuading others to act against their own interests.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
For Fahey and Lawler, the fair emerged from years spent persuading friends and collectors to visit the region.
—Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The 16th and 17th century wars of religion saw reformers like Martin Luther painting the Roman Catholic Church in apocalyptic terms resulting in much bloodshed and likely persuading the Founding Fathers to include the disestablishment clause in the Constitution.
—Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Preller then made a franchise-changing move by persuading pitching coach Ruben Niebla to leave pitching-savvy Cleveland.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
The 70-year-old was explaining how the revival came about through years-long persuading of Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Linwood Boomer.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Each distortion is what happens when the body does the persuading, and the ideas are just the wardrobe.
—Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
But Putin cannot have needed much persuading to agree to a formal invitation to the US to have the bilateral meeting his team have long held out as the way towards peace in Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading).
—Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
My hero Carol Loomis provided a great service in persuading her pal to share what become justly honored as the Buffett Indicator with all of us.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Flock has become increasingly controversial, with communities across the country persuading their local governments to cancel their contracts, though the number is still dwarfed by how many cities renew their agreements with Flock every year.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
Often, threats of family separation work hand in hand with medical neglect, Juburi told me, persuading families to accept deportation.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
That would involve changing some state laws, persuading housing lenders to be more accommodating and overcoming resistance from construction unions.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Ever since the first caveman tricked his neighbor into trading a pile of rocks for some tasty mastodon steaks, con men have been persuading others to act against their own interests.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
For Fahey and Lawler, the fair emerged from years spent persuading friends and collectors to visit the region.
—Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The 16th and 17th century wars of religion saw reformers like Martin Luther painting the Roman Catholic Church in apocalyptic terms resulting in much bloodshed and likely persuading the Founding Fathers to include the disestablishment clause in the Constitution.
—Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Preller then made a franchise-changing move by persuading pitching coach Ruben Niebla to leave pitching-savvy Cleveland.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuading
Verb
-
The next step for you would be to contact the police department in your community and ask for help in convincing your son he is being scammed.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Part of convincing him to do the play was not so much selling him on the material but selling him on the act of doing theater.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This strategic move is backed by internal DressX’s own data, which indicates that users who engage with virtual try-on features see a tenfold increase in conversion rates compared to those who do not.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Now, Musk's lawyers are set to argue that Altman and others enriched themselves illegally through that for-profit conversion.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the core of the story is the certainty that revenge, while occasionally satisfying on a gut level, is corrosive to the soul and not, in fact, a reliable way to meet lifelong pals.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In a competitive market, where streamers continue to invest in originals, commercial networks are strong and imports rate well, the result was satisfying for NRK.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its founding was the result of about 20 years of work and persuasion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
While in its infancy, radio advertising was seen as an influential funding source for publicity and persuasion.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persuading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuading. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
