Persuasive
adjective /pəˈsweɪsɪv/ — Able to convince — having the quality of moving others to believe or act.
Definition
Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the skillful use of appeal; having the power to induce belief or to convince.
Beyond the definition
Persuasive is the quality that makes the difference between speaking and being heard, between presenting and convincing. The persuasive argument is one that takes its audience's position seriously enough to meet them there.
Origin & history
From Latin persuasus — convinced (past participle of persuadere). The adjective of the convinced — the quality of one who can produce conviction in others.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her case was persuasive not because it was aggressive but because it was evidently fair.
The most persuasive arguments often acknowledge the opposing view before dissolving it.
He was persuasive in a one-on-one conversation; the platform lost him.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Persuasive” when the meaning fits your context: Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the skillful use of appeal; having the power to induce belief or to convince.
Synonyms
convincing, compelling, cogent, influential, effective
Antonyms
unconvincing, weak, ineffective
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Commanding and Influential Speaker
An orator stands on a stage with arms outstretched, their posture commanding and intense in the bright stage lighting.
The orator's open stance and intense focus visualize the act of capturing attention to influence others. Persuasive communication relies on a combination of confident presence and clear, rhetorical delivery to convince an audience of a specific viewpoint.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Persuasive" mean?
Persuasive is adjective meaning: Able to convince — having the quality of moving others to believe or act.. Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the skillful use of appeal; having the power to induce belief or to convince.
Where does the word "Persuasive" come from?
From Latin persuasus — convinced (past participle of persuadere). The adjective of the convinced — the quality of one who can produce conviction in others.