perswasion

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...
   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.
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

See all 7 meanings of persuasion