persuasion

Noun

persuasion (countable and uncountable, plural persuasions)

1. The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc.
   • With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.2006, Rachel Morris, “Borderline Catastrophe”, in Washington Monthly, vol. 38:10
2. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.
   • Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods,
     Could vſe perſwaſions more pathetical.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...
   • Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions, prays and becomes penitent.1928 February 13, “The New Pictures”, in Time
   1. (euphemistic) All activity attempting to influence or control others' behavior or profession of beliefs, from convincing to threatening, assault, or battery.
      • Some of the shopowners were resistant to the extortion, so the mafia did some persuasion.
3. A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief.
   • It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.
   • Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions.2010 February 6, “We don't need gay stereotypes”, in The Guardian
4. One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness.
5. A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology.
   • As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.2009, US Catholic (letter), May 2009
6. (broadly, humorous, often) Another personal, animal or inanimate trait that is not (very) liable to be changed by persuasion, such as sex, gender, ethnicity, origin, profession or nature.
   • Let us pray that the next generation be all of the male persuasion.1871 February 14, J.J., "More Solution", Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, page 105.
   • To say that a woman is of the female persuasion was originally meant for a joke. As such it might pass — once. You might, indeed, refuse to smile; still, you wouldn't feel like invoking the law. But the constant and persistent use of this unfunny bit of fun has grown to be something of a public...1890, The Illustrated American, volume 4, page 308