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Persuasion vs Compel - What's the difference?

persuasion | compel |

As a noun persuasion

is persuasion.

As a verb compel is

(transitive|archaic|literally) to drive together, round up.

persuasion

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc.
  • * 2006 , Rachel Morris, "Borderline Catastrophe", Washington Monthly , vol. 38:10:
  • With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.
  • An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.
  • * 1928 , "The New Pictures", Time , 13 Feb 1928:
  • Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions , prays and becomes penitent.
  • A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief.
  • It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.
  • One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness.
  • A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology.
  • * 2009 , US Catholic (letter), May 2009:
  • As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.
  • (colloquial) Any group having a specified characteristic or attribute in common.
  • * 2010 , "We don't need gay stereotypes", The Guardian , 6 Feb 2010:
  • Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions .

    Antonyms

    * dissuasion * dissuasion

    Derived terms

    * persuade * persuasive * suasion ----

    compel

    English

    Verb

  • (transitive, archaic, literally) To drive together, round up (rfex)
  • To overpower; to subdue.
  • * 1917 , , King Coal , ch. 16,
  • She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man.
  • To force, constrain or coerce.
  • Logic compels''' the wise, while fools feel '''compelled by emotions.
  • * 1600 , , Julius Caesar , act 5, sc. 1,
  • Against my will, / As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set / Upon one battle all our liberties.
  • * Hallam
  • Wolsey compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once.
  • To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Commissions, which compel from each / The sixth part of his substance.
  • * 1912 , , Sky Island , ch. 14,
  • The Queen has nothing but the power to execute the laws, to adjust grievances and to compel order.
  • (obsolete) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
  • * Dryden
  • Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled .
  • * Tennyson
  • I compel all creatures to my will.
  • (obsolete) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
  • * Dryden
  • in one troop compelled
  • (obsolete) To call forth; to summon.
  • * Spenser
  • She had this knight from far compelled .
    (Chapman)

    Derived terms

    * compellable * compeller * compelling * compellation * compel testimony

    References

    * * * Random House Webster’s Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996. English control verbs English transitive verbs