convincing
Americanadjective
-
persuading or assuring by argument or evidence.
They gave a convincing demonstration of the car's safety features.
-
appearing worthy of belief; plausible.
The excuse was not convincing.
adjective
-
credible or plausible
-
law persuading by evidence or argument
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of convincing
Explanation
When something is convincing, it makes people agree with what it claims to be true. Describe an argument as convincing if it wins you over and makes you believe in its rightness. To figure out what convincing means, remember that vincere is the Latin word for "to conquer." Add on the prefix con-, meaning "with," and you get something that has the ability to conquer — whether it's doubts, disbelief, or hostility. The suffix -ing tells you that the word describes the action or result of something. The result of a convincing argument is more people who have joined your side or cause.
Vocabulary lists containing convincing
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 31-40
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
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"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Flash forward to the present, and we have a remarkable parallel: A.I. chatbots provide a convincing illusion of consciousness, but we know they are just a sequence of lifeless math calculations.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
The real Colbert was so convincing as the antagonistic face of the “The Colbert Report,” it was often hard to tell how much space set the man apart from the character he played.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
However, one of the strongest potential clues pointing beyond the Standard Model has now become far less convincing.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
Baritone Carlos Álvarez was convincing as the troubled Diego, trying hard to keep up a macho veneer.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
He looks like he's regretting convincing his mom to play.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
