Persuade

/pə(ɹ)ˈsweɪd/

Synonyms for "persuade" (298 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (60)

Verb(21 words)
swayconvincewin overaffect decisionsalluredapply downward forceargueattitudinizebrainwashbring roundcajolecajoledcajolescarrycast a love spellchanging attitudescharmedcloutedcoaxedcoaxes
Show 1 more word
coerce into agreement
admonishadviseaffectargue intoassurebe convincingbendbiasbringbring home tobring overbring roundbring to reasoncajolecaptivatecarry convictioncautionchargecharmchat
Show 1 more word
Adjective(3 words)
agitatedbenign influencechanged attitude
Noun(15 words)
appeal to emotionapplied external forceapplying forcebentbiasingblarneybribesbullscajolingcausecause changechanged behaviorcloutcoaxcoaxing

Strong matches (89)

Verb(26 words)
Show 6 more words
inducesinfectinfluenceinfluence verbinfluencedinfluencing strategies
Noun(27 words)
communication craftconsingconvert to faithconvert to queryconvert to religionconvertsconvincingcozensdroveeggingelectioneersensnaringevangelizingexhortingfinessefinessingfrench influencefrench media influencegerman bewegengroup persuasion
Show 7 more words
guilthuman influenceinclinesinducinginfluence factorsinfluence tacticinfluences
Adjective(4 words)
convincing argumentfair influenceglib remarkinfatuated
Adverb(1 words)
gradually apply force

Related words (149)

Adjective(4 words)
influential advocateprevailingpublic influencesurprising
inspire beliefinterestissue a caveatleadlead by the noselead to believelobbyluremakemotivatemoveouttalkpreachpredisposepresspressureprevailprevail onprevail uponprevail with
Show 30 more words
Noun(49 words)
inveiglingjawbonejawbonesjawboninglobbylullingmanipulated chemicallymanipulatingmelted water samplemove objectnudgingopinion changeopinion shapingopinion shiftpeer forcingpolitics practicepopularity appealpreachingpressingpressure
Show 29 more words
Determiner(2 words)
no forceno friction influence

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: sway, convince, win over, admonish, advise.
  • Sentence evidence is available for persuade, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "persuade".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "persuade"

Keep "persuade" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "persuade" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "persuade", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "persuade" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

7 relation types

More general

12 entries

More specific

6 entries
coaxcurriculum updateemotional appealethical appealinducepolicy change

Collocations

6 entries
ethical persuasionpersuasion skillspersuasion techniquespersuasive argumentpersuasive essaypower of persuasion

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

4 entries

Antonyms

1 entries

similar

1 entries

Sample sentences

20 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

It is no use your trying to persuade him.

Source: tatoeba (17747)

It is difficult for us to persuade him.

Source: tatoeba (23497)

Granted that you are right, we still have to persuade him first.

Source: tatoeba (25333)

No words availed to persuade him.

Source: tatoeba (36656)

Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "persuade"?

Closest matches include sway, convince, win over, admonish, advise.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "persuade"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "persuade"