PERSUADING Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

persuading 1 of 2

noun

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

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persuading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of persuade

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

Noun

In reality, Blanding says, her sister didn’t need much persuading. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Goode needed no persuading about the beauty of animals like New Caledonian geckos, African bush vipers, Caribbean rock iguanas, and similar Cyclura. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026 Bisegna, who is 17 and more soft-spoken, took a little persuading. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 13 July 2026 And social media is presumably where AI will do much of its persuading. — Robert Wright, Fortune, 24 June 2026 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

The company’s reputation was built partly on persuading audiences to take chances on inexpensive, surprising horror outings — often with little more than a compelling premise to go on. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026 Campaigns are entering a crucial stretch for persuading the independent voters who will probably determine outcomes in swing races. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 Macron's controversial pension reforms illustrate the difficulty of persuading French voters to accept reductions in longstanding public benefits, Feigenbaum argued. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 The sheer math of persuading a majority of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the president to approve a bill is difficult enough. — Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Any legal maneuvers could take months to play out and may have the effect of persuading his targets to postpone any plans to leave the Fed, as Powell has already done. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026 Until that changes, the challenge will not simply be persuading more young people to enter the trades. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026 His parents followed him to the state after his 2019 move, and Pendley’s father became a higher-up at a prison, eventually persuading Pendley to visit and meet some of the inmates. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026 Realtors say higher interest rates on mortgages, combined with inflation more broadly, are persuading some people to put off buying homes. — Maya Huter, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for persuading

Noun

Prior to Monday night’s game between the Bills and Rams, the Bucs ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense, second against the run, tied for eighth in third-down conversion percentage and seventh in interception percentage.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Among the 138 teams in FBS, TCU’s offense ranks 93rd in third down conversions, 110th in rushing, and tied for 103rd in first downs.

— Mac Engel October 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conversion

Verb

Our main hurdle has always been convincing people to pay for a cinema ticket to watch two episodes of a series.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
To do so, the Republican Party has bet strongly this year on a strategy of convincing people that voter fraud is rampant.

— Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of convincing

Noun

For generations, Americans of every political persuasion have chosen to safeguard extraordinary places for everyone who would come after them.

— Mary Beth Laughton, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Much of the public conversation has focused on persuasion, and this number suggests that isn’t where the biggest gap is.

— Christina Sass, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of persuasion

Verb

Here are 16 satisfying activities and rituals to add to your fall bucket list.

— Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Unlike quiches, frittatas are crustless, but this version doesn’t skimp on satisfying carbs, thanks to coils of spaghetti that become crisp and caramelized on the edges and soft and fluffy in the eggy center.

— Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfying

Browse Nearby Words

persuades

persuading

persuasible

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Style

“Persuading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persuading. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of persuading

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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