suasion

noun

sua·​sion ˈswā-zhən How to pronounce suasion (audio)
: the act of influencing or persuading
suasive adjective
suasively adverb
suasiveness noun

Examples of suasion in a Sentence

a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong
Recent Examples on the Web For that change to work, however, politicians and other influential figures will need to use moral suasion to attack the cultural fixation on gaining a four-year degree at any cost. Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017 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. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 Read More: Believing Myths About Aging Makes Growing Old Worse Initially, their belief in moral suasion worked. Rebecca Brannon / Made By History, TIME, 3 July 2024 In this brilliant new look at the destruction of slavery during the American Civil War, Oakes reveals how the U.S. abolitionist movement relied not only on high-minded moral suasion but also on the small-bore legalistic strategy of the Republican Party. James Oakes, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2012 See all Example Sentences for suasion 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suasion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin suasion-, suasio, from suadēre to urge, persuade — more at sweet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suasion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suasion

Cite this Entry

“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suasion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

suasion

noun
sua·​sion ˈswā-zhən How to pronounce suasion (audio)
: the act of influencing or persuading
moral suasion
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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