Basic Details
Word: Persuasive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Good at making people agree with you or believe something.
Synonyms: convincing, compelling, effective
Antonyms: unconvincing, weak
How to Spell Persuasive
Syllables: per - sua - sive
Tricky part: The d of persuade becomes an s before ive. The u is still there even though it sounds like w.
Watch out for: perswasive, persuasiv, pursuasive
Memory tip: Change the d of persuade to s and add ive, just as invade gives invasive.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her persuasive speech on saving water got the whole colony to fix their leaking taps.
Example 2: Advertisements use persuasive pictures to make us want new things.
Example 3: Kabir wrote a persuasive letter asking the principal for a longer lunch break.
Fun Fact
The Latin verb suadere, to urge, which sits inside persuasive, comes from the same ancient root as suavis, meaning sweet, so persuading is linked to making an idea sound pleasant.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The salesman was so svesauprei that we bought three water filters.
a) persuasion
b) persuasive
c) perceptive
d) pervasive
Show answer
b) persuasive. Pervasive lacks the u, persuasion needs an o and perceptive a c, so persuasive is left.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word persuasive as it is used in the sentence:
The lawyer made a persuasive case for the old farmer, and the judge ruled in his favour.
a) lengthy
b) confusing
c) convincing
d) weak
Show answer
c) convincing. A persuasive case convinces people; weak is close to its opposite.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
pers_a_ive
a) w, s
b) u, z
c) u, c
d) u, s
Show answer
d) u, s. Keep the u from persuade and turn its d into an s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A persuasive essay is written mainly to ____.
a) tell a funny bedtime story
b) list the dates of a war
c) win the reader over to a view
d) describe how to cook rice
Show answer
c) win the reader over to a view
2. Which of these would you most likely call persuasive?
a) a strong argument
b) a broken pencil
c) a quiet library
d) a rainy afternoon
Show answer
a) a strong argument
