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

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 The past nine days have been difficult for anyone of a Crystal Palace persuasion after Manchester City and Newcastle United took turns hosting and smashing five goals past Oliver Glasner’s side. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 Published Wednesday, the report surveyed more than 4,000 U.S. residents from different backgrounds and political persuasions. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2025 All of us, regardless of religious affiliation or political persuasion, are called upon during this special season to hear the call of our neighbors who face threats to their safety, their wellbeing, and to their sources of social support. Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 His goal was to gain ground for conservative principles every day, with persuasion as his primary weapon, not shouting and histrionics. Doug Ducey, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for persuasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuasion
Noun
  • His humble approach to people explains why many of us regardless of religion are saddened by the pope’s death.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Starting in the 1990s, the share of Americans who identified as Christian, or identified with any religion at all, began to drop precipitously.
    Christian Paz, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Somehow this belief did not interrupt the flood of her love for Heiss.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • That belief has led him to support Pete Davidson, who sought treatment to address issues related to PTSD and borderline personality disorder in 2023, and John Mulaney, who has been open about his sobriety journey, according to Morrison.
    Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The plane has undergone a $10 million conversion to transform it into a modern marvel, while still retaining that retro feel and look.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2025
  • The properties include a $2.2 million Dorchester townhouse, a $2.3 million nearby townhouse conversion and a $3 million multifamily house in Boston's Roxbury Crossing neighborhood.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • To outsiders, however, the scars signify something more sinister, reinforcing the group's reputation as a dangerous cult.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Paul Smecker, 'The Boondock Saints' (1999) The cult hit contains one of Dafoe's most flamboyant efforts, complete with random river-dancing, a prostitute costume change and lyrical dancing during a gunfight.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In Wells’ opinion, that ability has been the most remarkable thing about him thus far.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The Guardian newspaper reports that the former Doctor Who star – who appeared in the 2005 film adaptation of Rowling’s book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – gave his opinion of Rowling in answer to questions posed by a group of neurodivergent young adults in ITV’s show The Assembly.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As Prima stood in the hallway speaking to Ruth, her mind moved over the contours of the previous year and reviewed the evidence.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • In their minds, the miracle cure gets worse odds than lighting striking you while a meteor lands on your head.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • An Ohio sheriff's deputy working on a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati was struck and killed Friday by a vehicle driven by the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by authorities a day earlier, police said.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
  • As a result, Heredia’s swift and aggressive response to the crisis — which authorities said was needed to root out fraud and save lives — caused concerns that behavioral health care, especially for Native Americans, was increasingly difficult to access.
    Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The rule includes everything from followers, likes, views, and comments.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Madrid have long been publicly vocal whenever the club feels officiating decisions have not gone their way, and club president Florentino Perez has been critical of what many at the Bernabeu view as refereeing bias against their side.
    Ali Rampling, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Persuasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuasion. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

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