persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād How to pronounce persuade (audio)
persuaded; persuading
Synonyms of persuade

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 of persuade

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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
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.
But there may be little anyone–government or corporate–can do to persuade people to have children amid greater economic uncertainty. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Salmon wondered if King could be persuaded to draw again, and Dawn agreed to try. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Sellers, eager to offload their properties, are more likely to negotiate on price or offer incentives to persuade buyers to choose their home over another. — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The eight-episode series, written by Peter Ocko, follows a giant tech conglomerate that persuades the city to place a powerful robot on its police force – a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved fallen officer, Alex Murphy (Stevens). — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for persuade

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of persuade was in the 15th century

Rhymes for persuade

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Browse Nearby Words

persuadable
persuade
persuader
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Persuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persuade. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

persuade

verb
per·​suade pər-ˈswād How to pronounce persuade (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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