suasion
noun
sua·sion ˈswā-zhən 
: the act of influencing or persuading
suasive
ˈswā-siv
adjective -ziv
suasively adverb
suasiveness noun
Synonyms
- conversion
- convincing
- inducement
- inducing
- persuading
- persuasion
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong
Recent Examples on the Web The goal isn’t just Oscars on a mantelpiece but emotional suasion, manipulating our gullibility and trust. 
Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 Neither reason nor moral suasion can deter Wanda from her dastardly mission; thus Strange, his longtime ally Wong (Benedict Wong), Christine, and America herself have no choice but to challenge the all-powerful sorceress in cataclysmic combat. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 May 2022 English missionaries, seeing the practice as heathen, tried moral suasion. Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2022 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 See More
Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 Neither reason nor moral suasion can deter Wanda from her dastardly mission; thus Strange, his longtime ally Wong (Benedict Wong), Christine, and America herself have no choice but to challenge the all-powerful sorceress in cataclysmic combat. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 May 2022 English missionaries, seeing the practice as heathen, tried moral suasion. Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2022 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin suasion-, suasio, from suadēre to urge, persuade — more at sweet
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
suasiveness
noun
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade there's a certain suasiveness in her imposing looks and demeanor that gives her an advantage as a trial lawyer Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- effectiveness
- conclusiveness
- strength
- validity
- authority
- credibility
- persuasiveness
- power
- impact
- persuasion
- convincingness
- influence
- forcefulness
- weight
- force
- soundness
- appeal
- cogency
- definitiveness
- might
- punch
- believability
- seductiveness
- sway
- authoritativeness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ineffectiveness
- inconclusiveness
- invalidity
- weakness
- ineffectuality
- ineffectualness
- unsoundness
- feebleness
- powerlessness
- shakiness