persuasion
per-SWEY-zhun
/pəˈsweɪʒən/
The action or fact of convincing someone or of being convinced to do or believe something.
Persuasion is the ultimate goal of rhetoric. It involves appealing to reason, emotion, and character to guide an audience toward a specific belief or action.
The story behind the word. Persuasion comes from the Latin persuasio, which derives from persuadere. The root suadere is related to the adjective suavis, meaning 'sweet'. Literally, to persuade someone is to make an idea 'sweet' or appealing to them.
Word relationships
- conviction: Conviction is the state of being convinced, while persuasion is the active process of convincing someone.
- inducement: Inducement often involves offering a physical reward or incentive, while persuasion relies on argument and emotional appeal.
- coercion: Coercion is forcing someone to do something through threats or violence, whereas persuasion relies on voluntary agreement.
- deterrence: Deterrence is discouraging someone from taking action, while persuasion typically encourages an action or belief.
Commonly confused with
- manipulation: Persuasion is transparent and respects the listener's agency, while manipulation is deceptive and serves only the speaker's interests.
Word family
- persuade (verb): To convince someone to do or believe something.
- persuasive (adjective): Good at persuading someone to do or believe something.
Collocations
- powers of persuasion
- art of persuasion
- gentle persuasion
- political persuasion
Idioms & expressions
- open to persuasion
Example sentences
- "Persuasion is often more effectual than force." A classic fable lesson.
- "He used all his powers of persuasion to convince the board to approve the risky new project." A business negotiation.
Memory hook
Persuasion sounds like 'purse wade'. Imagine convincing someone to 'wade' through their 'purse' to buy your product. Making an idea sweet and appealing.
When not to use
Do not use persuasion to describe physical force, coercion, or threats; persuasion must involve a mental shift in the listener.
Fun facts
- Jane Austen's final completed novel, published posthumously in 1817, is titled 'Persuasion' and deals with the social pressures of changing one's mind.
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