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Convince vs Persuade - What's the difference?

convince | persuade |

Persuade is a synonym of convince.



As verbs the difference between convince and persuade

is that convince is to make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence while persuade is to successfully convince (someone) to agree to, accept, or do something, usually through reasoning and verbal influence. Compare sway.

convince

English

Verb

(convinc)
  • To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
  • * Atterbury
  • Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to convince others.
  • To persuade.
  • (obsolete) To overcome, conquer, vanquish.
  • * Shakespeare
  • His two chamberlains / Will I with wine and wassail so convince / That memory, the warder of the brain, / Shall be a fume.
  • (obsolete) To confute; to prove wrong.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • God never wrought miracle to convince' atheism, because his ordinary works ' convince it.
  • (obsolete) To prove guilty; to convict.
  • * Bible, John viii. 46
  • Which of you convinceth me of sin?
  • * Dryden
  • Seek not to convince me of a crime / Which I can ne'er repent, nor you can pardon.

    Synonyms

    * persuade * satisfy * assure * convert * win over

    persuade

    English

    Alternative forms

    * perswade (obsolete)

    Verb

    (persuad)
  • To successfully convince (someone) to agree to, accept, or do something, usually through reasoning and verbal influence. Compare sway.
  • That salesman was able to persuade me into buying this bottle of lotion.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • We will persuade him, be it possible.
  • *
  • The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits. He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. Nobody would miss them, he explained.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=November 10, author=Jeremy Wilson, work=Telegraph
  • , title= England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report , passage=The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.}}
  • To urge, plead; to try to convince (someone to do something).
  • * (Bible), 2 (w) xviii. 32
  • Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you.
  • * 1834 , (w), A Narrative of the Life of , Nebraska 1987, p. 34:
  • He persuaded me to go home, but I refused.
  • (obsolete) To convince of by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe.
  • * (Bible), (w) vi. 9
  • Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you.

    Synonyms

    * convince

    Antonyms

    * dissuade

    Derived terms

    * persuasion * persuasive