persuasive

American  

[per-swey-siv, -ziv] / pərˈsweɪ sɪv, -zɪv /

adjective

1. able, fitted, or intended to persuade.

   a very persuasive argument.

   Synonyms:

   forceful, compelling, convincing

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noun

1. something that persuades; inducement.

persuasive British  

/ pəˈsweɪsɪv /

adjective

1. having the power or ability to persuade; tending to persuade

   a persuasive salesman

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Other Word Forms

• nonpersuasive adjective
• nonpersuasively adverb
• nonpersuasiveness noun
• persuasively adverb
• persuasiveness noun
• prepersuasive adjective
• unpersuasive adjective
• unpersuasively adverb
• unpersuasiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of persuasive

First recorded in 1580–90, persuasive is from the Medieval Latin word persuāsīvus. See persuasible, -ive

Example Sentences

The voice was very persuasive and I was easy to persuade.

From Literature

In the second half of the 19th Century, photography became one of the British Empire's most persuasive instruments for knowing - and classifying - India.

From BBC

Raiding Home Depot parking lots and stopping people on the street isn’t persuasive to this end.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I guess some of us are just better at being persuasive.”

From Literature

In the case of “Nirvanna the Band,” I assume the answer to the second question at some point becomes “no,” but it’s all done with a very persuasive mix of vérité style and can-do lunacy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alluring
• cogent
• compelling
• conclusive
• convincing
• credible
• effective
• eloquent
• energetic
• forceful
• impressive
• influential
• inspiring
• logical
• plausible
• potent
• powerful
• valid