persuasive

[per-swey-siv, -ziv]

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adjective

able, fitted, or intended to persuade: a very persuasive argument.

noun

something that persuades; inducement.

Origin of persuasive

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

Related formsper·sua·sive·ly, adverbper·sua·sive·ness, nounnon·per·sua·sive, adjectivenon·per·sua·sive·ly, adverbnon·per·sua·sive·ness, nounpre·per·sua·sive, adjectiveun·per·sua·sive, adjectiveun·per·sua·sive·ly, adverbun·per·sua·sive·ness, noun

Synonyms for persuasive

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR persuasive ON THESAURUS.COM

1. convincing, compelling, forceful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for persuasiveness

strength, influence, forcefulness, power, inducement

Examples from the Web for persuasiveness

Contemporary Examples of persuasiveness

Art depends for its effects, for its persuasiveness, on inevitability.
The Power of 'Straw Dogs'
Malcolm Jones
September 19, 2011

Historical Examples of persuasiveness

The persuasiveness that could sway a mob ended by sweeping M. Binet off his feet.
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini
This is the true rhetoric, the right road to persuasiveness, to be absolutely frank.
Cyropaedia
Xenophon
And there was some pressure, too, besides the persuasiveness.
Under Western Eyes
Joseph Conrad
He injected a little more of the oil of persuasiveness into his voice.
Rim o' the World
B. M. Bower
He spoke with so much grace and persuasiveness that I was fascinated no less than the abbe.
Mauprat
George Sand

British Dictionary definitions for persuasiveness

persuasive

adjective

having the power or ability to persuade; tending to persuadea persuasive salesman

Derived Formspersuasively, adverbpersuasiveness, noun

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).