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suasion

American  
[swey-zhuhn] / ˈsweɪ ʒən /

noun

  1. the act of advising, urging, or attempting to persuade; persuasion.

  2. an instance of this; a persuasive effort.


suasion British  
/ ˈsweɪʒən /

noun

  1. a rare word for persuasion

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of suasion

1325–75; Middle English < Latin suāsiōn- (stem of suāsiō ), equivalent to suās ( us ), past participle of suādēre to advise ( suād-, verb stem + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s ) + -iōn- -ion

Vocabulary lists containing suasion

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.

The head of the Catholic Church is adding his moral suasion to a growing backlash against the impact of artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Some will argue that self-expression is the goal, others moral suasion; some will prefer soft power to storming the barricades and some the reverse.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2024

France presents a contrast, in that President Emmanuel Macron has used more suasion.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2021

They use scale, narrative and moral suasion to shape public opinion and collective identity.

From Washington Post • Nov. 25, 2020

He wouldn’t have wished to talk her into caring for him, even were he given to verbal suasion.

From Lonesome Town by Dorrance, Ethel

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