Persuasion Techniques

verb to persuade someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argument

• The salesperson tried to convince the customer to upgrade to the premium package.
• I'm trying to convince my friend to come to the party with me.
• She managed to convince her parents to let her stay out past curfew.
• The evidence presented in court was enough to convince the jury of his guilt.

adjective easily convinced or too ready to believe things

• The credulous investors were easily swayed by the false promises of the fraudulent company.
• Don't be so credulous, always fact-check before believing everything you hear.
• I can't believe you fell for that scam, you're so credulous!
• Her credulous nature made her vulnerable to manipulation by those with ill intentions.

noun the act of persuading or leading someone into doing something by deception or flattery

• The salesman's inveiglement tactics were transparent to the discerning customer.
• She tried to inveigle me into going shopping with her, but I declined.
• He used his smooth talking skills to inveigle his way into getting a discount.
• The politician's inveiglement of the public was met with skepticism and scrutiny.

noun the skill or ability to sell goods or services effectively

adjective salesmanship (there is no specific adjective form for this word)

• His exceptional salesmanship skills led to a significant increase in revenue for the company.
• She's got some serious salesmanship - she can sell anything to anyone!
• That guy's got mad salesmanship game, he could talk a cat off a fish wagon.
• Her salesmanship was like a well-crafted dance, leading the customer effortlessly towards a purchase.

noun a person who talks or converses, especially in a specified way or on a specified subject

• The keynote speaker at the conference was an excellent talker, captivating the audience with his eloquent speech.
• My friend is such a talker, she can chat for hours without getting bored.
• That guy is a smooth talker, he can sweet talk his way out of any situation.
• In the world of politics, being a good talker is often more important than being truthful.

verb past participle form of the verb 'persuade'

adjective describing someone who is not convinced or swayed by something

• Despite the convincing arguments presented by the defense attorney, the jury remained unpersuaded.
• I tried to convince him to come to the party, but he was completely unpersuaded.
• No matter how much I tried to sell him on the idea, he was just not feeling it - totally unpersuaded.
• Her heart was unpersuaded by his empty promises, knowing better than to trust him again.

adjective not influenced or affected by someone or something; not persuaded or convinced

• Despite the persuasive arguments presented, the judge remained unswayed in her decision.
• Even after all that, she was still unswayed.
• No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sway her, she was unswayed.
• Like a rock in a river, she stood unswayed by the currents of influence.

verb to influence or persuade someone through flattery or smooth talk

• The salesman tried to wheedle the customer into purchasing the more expensive product.
• She always tries to wheedle her way out of doing chores.
• He's always trying to wheedle free drinks from the bartender.
• The politician attempted to wheedle support from undecided voters.

verb to try to persuade someone to do something by using smooth or flattering words

• The salesman tried wheedling the customer into purchasing the more expensive option.
• She's always wheedling her way into getting what she wants.
• Stop wheedling me for answers, I don't know either!
• Her wheedling smile could charm even the grumpiest of individuals.

verb to seek the affection or love of someone, typically with the intention of establishing a romantic relationship

• The company tried to woo potential investors with a detailed presentation.
• He's been trying to woo her with flowers and chocolates.
• I heard he's been trying to woo her with some smooth talk.
• The singer's performance was so captivating, it seemed to woo the entire audience.

noun a phenomenon where presenting evidence that contradicts a person's belief can actually strengthen their original belief

• The backfire effect occurs when presenting evidence contrary to a person's beliefs actually strengthens those beliefs.
• Trying to prove someone wrong can sometimes have the opposite effect and make them believe even more strongly - that's the backfire effect.
• Debunking myths can sometimes backfire and make people believe in them even more, it's like a reverse psychology thing.
• It's like throwing fuel on a fire - trying to change someone's mind with facts can often result in the backfire effect.