Persuasive

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /pə(ɹ)ˈsweɪsɪv/

Definitions

1. Capable of convincing or influencing someone to believe or do something through effective reasoning or appealing arguments
2. Having the ability to successfully sway opinions or actions through compelling communication or logical reasoning
3. Exhibiting qualities that lead others to accept a viewpoint or take action, often through effective argumentation

Etymology: "Persuasive" is a straightforward case: it was built in Latin from a verb meaning "to urge thoroughly." The Latin verb "persuādēre" combined "per-" (thoroughly, through) with "suādēre" (to advise or urge), so its core sense was to press someone hard until they agreed. The adjective "persuāsīvus" grew from that verb's past participle stem with the suffix "-īvus," meaning "tending to do something," so the word literally described something capable of bringing about that pressing. The word reached English by way of Middle French "persuasif," which Medieval Latin scholars had already shaped into a formal adjective. English adopted the form in the Middle Ages, and the adjective kept the meaning of persuading others through argument or appeal, which is what it still means today.

Synonyms: convincing, influential, compelling, cogent, forceful

Antonyms: unconvincing, ineffective, weak, incoherent, unpersuasive