as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action
a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suasion
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suasion
Noun
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The decline and eventual abolition of slavery has been portrayed as the result of tireless activism and moral persuasion by early Quaker advocates like Benjamin Lay who considered slavery one of the worst sins.—
Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick,
The Conversation,
4 Apr. 2025
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With skepticism rising, brands must prioritize education over persuasion.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Out back, there’s a sleek new pool and detached garage, primed for conversion.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
-
That's good news as purple and green longitudinal chromatic aberration that's often visible with bright aperture lenses is all but impossible to remove with software, black-and-white conversions aside.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Iranians are responding to several inducements, foremost among them the staggering array of forces the United States has prepositioned in the Middle East.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Apr. 2025
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Along with being able to use a TIF as an inducement to development, the village wants to use it to create stormwater storage capacity at the mall.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suasion. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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