suasion
Art of convincing
Suasion is the act of persuading or urging, typically through argument or appeal rather than force.
The word appears most often in the phrase moral suasion—influence exerted through ethical argument or social pressure rather than legal compulsion: The central bank relied on moral suasion to discourage risky lending.
Suasion is formal and relatively uncommon outside this set phrase.
Able to persuade
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- inducementMotivating factor or offer
- exhortationUrgent persuasive appeal
- urgingStrongly encouraging action
encouragement · motivation · advocacy · lobbying · campaigning · canvassing · pitch · plea
Flattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
ingratiating · fawning · buttering up · soft-soaping · smooth-talking · beguiling · cajolement · honeyed words
Rock back and forth
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- cloutInformal power or punch
- pullForce toward oneself
- pressureForce upon contact
authority · weight · ascendancy · dominance · power · impact · effect · soft power
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- logosBrand identification symbols
ethos · pathos · demagoguery · polemic · exhortation · homily · propaganda · speechmaking
Attractive, tempting quality
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- charmAttractive personal quality
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- lureThing that tempts
bait · inducement · incentive · sweetener · carrot · beguilement · captivation · wooing
Formal argument on issues
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- disputationFormal argumentative exchange
premise · conclusion · inference · deduction · induction · rebuttal · refutation · counterargument
convincing
Able to persuade
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- inducementMotivating factor or offer
- exhortationUrgent persuasive appeal
urging · encouragement · motivation · advocacy · lobbying · campaigning · canvassing · pitch · plea · appeal
cajolery
Flattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
flattery · ingratiating · fawning · buttering up · soft-soaping · smooth-talking · beguiling · cajolement · honeyed words · winning ways
sway
Rock back and forth
pressure · authority · weight · ascendancy · dominance · power · impact · effect · soft power · arm-twisting
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
logos · ethos · pathos · demagoguery · polemic · exhortation · homily · propaganda · speechmaking · declamation
allure
Attractive, tempting quality
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- charmAttractive personal quality
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
lure · bait · inducement · incentive · sweetener · carrot · beguilement · captivation · wooing · tantalizing
debate
Formal argument on issues
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
disputation · premise · conclusion · inference · deduction · induction · rebuttal · refutation · counterargument · proposition
suasioncoercion
Pressured compliance through threats
force · compulsion · duress · intimidation · threats
- moral suasionPersuasion through values