persuasive
[per-swey-siv, -ziv]
- able, fitted, or intended to persuade: a very persuasive argument.
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- something that persuades; inducement.
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Origin of persuasive
First recorded in 1580–90, persuasive is from the Medieval Latin word persuāsīvus. See persuasible, -ive
Synonyms
See more synonyms for persuasive on Thesaurus.com1. convincing, compelling, forceful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for persuasiveness
Contemporary Examples
Art depends for its effects, for its persuasiveness, on inevitability.
Historical Examples
The persuasiveness that could sway a mob ended by sweeping M. Binet off his feet.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
This is the true rhetoric, the right road to persuasiveness, to be absolutely frank.
CyropaediaXenophon
And there was some pressure, too, besides the persuasiveness.
Under Western EyesJoseph Conrad
He injected a little more of the oil of persuasiveness into his voice.
Rim o' the WorldB. M. Bower
He spoke with so much grace and persuasiveness that I was fascinated no less than the abbe.
MaupratGeorge Sand
persuasive
- having the power or ability to persuade; tending to persuadea persuasive salesman
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for persuasiveness
persuasive
adj.
1580s, from Middle French persuasif, from Medieval Latin persuasivus, from Latin persuas-, past participle stem of persuadere "persuade, convince" (see persuasion). Related: Persuasively; persuasiveness. Replaced earlier persuasible in this sense (see persuadable).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper