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Describe vs Persuade - What's the difference?

describe | persuade |

In transitive terms the difference between describe and persuade

is that describe is to represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out while persuade is to successfully convince (someone) to agree to, accept, or do something, usually through reasoning and verbal influence. Compare sway.

describe

English

Verb

(describ)
  • (label) To represent in words.
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  • Yet the truth is that City would probably have been coasting by that point if the referee, Michael Oliver, had not turned down three separate penalties, at least two of which could be accurately described as certainties.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
  • , passage=
  • (label) To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out.
  • * 1826 , (James Fenimore Cooper), (The Last of the Mohicans)
  • Uncas described an arc in the water with his own blade, and as the canoe passed swiftly on, Chingachgook recovered his paddle, and flourishing it on high, he gave the war-whoop of the Mohicans.
  • To give rise to a geometrical structure.
  • To reveal a new species by scientifically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.
  • (label) To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class.
  • * Bible, (w) xviii. 9
  • Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book.

    Synonyms

    * (to represent in words) portray, betell, depict, report * (to represent in writing) bewrite

    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