persuading
Changing someone's mind
Persuading is the act of convincing someone to believe or do something through reasoning, argument, or appeal.
The word emphasizes the ongoing effort: She spent an hour persuading him to come.
Unlike coercing, persuading implies the person retains choice—you're changing their mind, not forcing their hand.
Powerfully engaging or persuasive
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- enticingPowerfully attractive
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
believable · plausible · credible · logical · sound · valid · effective · winning over
Altering someone's thinking
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- motivatingPrompting someone to act
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- promptingGiving reminders to continue
inducing · impelling · guiding · shaping · inspiring · moving · steering · nudging
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- debateFormal argument on issues
logos · ethos · pathos · sophistry · dialectic · suasion · forensics · speechmaking
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
haggling · diplomacy · conciliation · arbitration · talks · parley · give-and-take · terms
compelling
Powerfully engaging or persuasive
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- enticingPowerfully attractive
argument · believable · plausible · credible · logical · sound · valid · effective · winning over · talking into
influencing
Altering someone's thinking
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- motivatingPrompting someone to act
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
prompting · inducing · impelling · guiding · shaping · inspiring · moving · steering · nudging · lobbying
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
debate · logos · ethos · pathos · sophistry · dialectic · suasion · forensics · speechmaking · elocution
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
deal-making · haggling · diplomacy · conciliation · arbitration · talks · parley · give-and-take · terms · agreement
- persuadingconvincing, urging, coaxing, influencing, swaying
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- speaking practiceconversation, role play, role-play, fluency, drills
- incitementinciting, instigating, provoking, incitement, instigation
- communicatingtalking, speaking, telling, sharing, expressing
persuadingdissuading
Advising against action
deterring · discouraging · dissuasion · putting off · disincentivizing
persuadingcommanding
Exerting strong authority
forcing · coercing · compelling · ordering · dictating
persuadingalienating
Causing emotional separation
repelling · unconvincing · entrenching · backfiring · turning off
persuade, persuasion, persuasive, dissuade, persuaded, persuadable, persuades, persuasively, persuasiveness