persuasion

persuasion — noun

1. the process of talking to someone until they change their mind or agree to do so

1.nounC2
Definition

the process of talking to someone until they change their mind or agree to do something

Example

After an hour of persuasion, Leo finally agreed to call the doctor.

after an hour of persuasion

Mina joined the choir after some gentle persuasion from her older sister.

collocation: gentle persuasion

Common collocations
  • gentle persuasion
  • patient persuasion
  • powers of persuasion
  • with a little persuasion
  • no amount of persuasion
Synonyms
  • coaxing

    usually gentler and more personal, often used for small actions

  • encouragement

    more supportive, with less focus on changing someone's view

  • pressure

    stronger and often suggests force or discomfort

  • influence

    broader, since it can happen without direct argument

Antonyms
  • resistance

    shows that someone does not yield to attempts to change their mind

  • refusal

    focuses on a clear no after persuasion is attempted

Grammar Patterns

after a lot of persuasion

with a little persuasion

no amount of persuasion

by persuasion

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and common after words like gentle, patient, and little, or in phrases such as by persuasion and no amount of persuasion. Distinguish from sense 2, which names a belief group rather than the act of influencing someone.

Common Mistakes

After many persuasions, she signed the form.
After a lot of persuasion, she signed the form.
this sense is usually uncountable in everyday English.

2. a set of religious or political beliefs that a person or group follows

2.nounC2
Definition

a set of religious or political beliefs that a person or group follows

Example

Her parents were of a different religious persuasion from our family.

pattern: of a religious persuasion

Most voters in the village are of a conservative persuasion.

pattern: of a conservative persuasion

Common collocations
  • religious persuasion
  • political persuasion
  • of a conservative persuasion
  • of the same persuasion
  • Christian persuasions
Synonyms
  • creed

    often used for a formal set of religious beliefs

  • ideology

    more common for organized political or social ideas

  • denomination

    only fits branches within a religion, especially Christianity

  • affiliation

    broader and can refer to simple group connection, not beliefs themselves

Grammar Patterns

of a [religious or political] persuasion

of the same persuasion

every political persuasion

Usage Note

Often follows of in phrases like of a liberal persuasion or of the same persuasion. Common with religious and political labels, and much less common than sense 1 in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

She is a Christian persuasion.
She is of a Christian persuasion.
this sense usually appears after 'of' when naming someone's belief group.
Idioms

of the… persuasion

idiom

Belonging to a particular type or group, especially in politics or beliefs.

The new member is of the conservative persuasion.

Are you of the scientific persuasion or the artistic one?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Persuasion focuses on changing someone's mind by words, reasons, or steady influence. Coaxing is usually gentler and more personal: you coax a tired child into bed or a shy friend onto the dance floor. Pressure is stronger and may feel uncomfortable or unfair; it can come from time, rules, or other people, not only from conversation. Encouragement is more positive and supportive, helping someone feel able to act rather than pushing them to agree. Influence is broader, since a person, event, or image can influence you without anyone directly arguing. If Maya changed her brother's mind by calm talk, that is persuasion. If the boss made everyone agree because jobs were at risk, that is pressure.

coaxingpressure ↗encouragement ↗influence ↗

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Persuasion came into English through Old French from Latin persuadere, a verb meaning to bring someone to believe something or to advise them strongly. The noun first referred to the act of convincing a person by words. Later, English also used it for the set of beliefs a person belongs to, especially in religion or politics.