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persuade definition

per·suade (pər swād′)

transitive verb persuaded -·suad′ed, persuading -·suad′·ing

  1. to cause to do something by reasoning, urging, or inducement; prevail upon
  2. to induce to believe something; convince

Etymology: MFr persuader < L persuadere < per-, intens. + suadere, to urge: see suasion

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

persuade Synonyms

persuade

v.

  1. To influence

    convince, move, induce, satisfy, inveigle, assure, cajole, incline, talk someone into something, win over, bring around, bring over, lead to believe, gain the confidence of, prevail on, prevail upon, overcome another's resistance, wear down, bring to one's senses, win an argument, make one's point, gain the confidence of, make someone see the light*, cram down one's throat*, sell*, sell a bill of goods*, sell on*, turn someone on to*; see also influence.

    Antonyms dissuade*, neglect*, dampen. *

  2. To urge

    exhort, coax, prompt; see urge 1, 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

persuade Usage Examples

Object

  • voter: They will work in schools, markets and other places where people gather, to persuade voters to register.

Subject

  • argument: In reaching this conclusion the Tribunal was persuaded by the argument put forward by the Respondents.

Modifying Another Word

  • eventually: However, she was eventually persuaded to substitute a fine.

Infinitive complement

  • resign: Come March, I was persuaded to resign as a director.

Preposition: of

  • merit: Principals and teachers must be persuaded of the merits of this work.

Preposition: by

  • argument: In reaching this conclusion the Tribunal was persuaded by the argument put forward by the Respondents.
persuade usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

persuade quotes

Let usnotforgetthat we cannevergofarther thanwe can persuade at least half the people to go.

-Gaitskell, Hugh

EŁ  loquence quipersuade par douceur, non par empire, en tyran, non en roi. Eloquence should persuade gently, not by force or like a tyrant or king.

-Pascal, Blaise

For I spend all my time going about trying to persuade you, young and old, to make your first and chief concern not for your bodies nor for your possessions, but for the highest welfare of your souls, proclaiming as Igo,Wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the state.

-Plato

persuade quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"persuade." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/persuade>

APA Style

persuade. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/persuade

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