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adjective B1 Intermediate Uncommon

persuasive

puh-SWAY-sihv

Persuasive (adjective) means Able to convince people; making a strong, convincing case. Example: “She gave a persuasive argument for why the deadline should be extended.”

adjective
1
Able to convince people; making a strong, convincing case.
"She gave a persuasive argument for why the deadline should be extended."
"His persuasive manner won over even the skeptics in the room."

How to use persuasive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGood at convincing people — describes an argument, speaker, or piece of writing.

Common pairings
a persuasive argument highly persuasive persuasive evidence

Word forms

more persuasive comparative, persuasives plural, most persuasive superlative

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Test yourself on “persuasive” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She gave a _____ argument for why the deadline should be extended.

Etymology

From Latin persuadere ("to persuade") plus the adjective ending -ive.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for persuasive

See all rhymes for persuasive →

Frequently asked questions

What does “persuasive” mean?

The word “persuasive” means able to convince people; making a strong, convincing case. In plain terms, good at convincing people — describes an argument, speaker, or piece of writing.

How do you pronounce “persuasive”?

“Persuasive” is pronounced puh-SWAY-sihv (/pə(ɹ)ˈsweɪsɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “persuasive” in a sentence?

Here is “persuasive” used in a sentence: “She gave a persuasive argument for why the deadline should be extended.”

What part of speech is “persuasive”?

“Persuasive” is an adjective.

Where does the word “persuasive” come from?

The word “persuasive” comes from Latin. From Latin persuadere ("to persuade") plus the adjective ending -ive.

Is “persuasive” a common word?

“Persuasive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial