Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

suasion

American  
[sway-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.

See Examples For:

Credit Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for understanding this and engaging in moral suasion with foreign-exchange traders last week to help Tokyo stabilize the yen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 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

You have a voice in it — a voice that can be amplified by suasion — but so do your neighbors.

From New York Times ● Aug. 3, 2021

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

From Washington Post ● Nov. 25, 2020

Myfanwy, however, used all her powers of argument and suasion with a view to prevent him from following so hazardous a calling; but without success. 

From The Cambrian Sketch-Book Tales, Scenes, and Legends of Wild Wales by R. Rice Davies

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com