What does convincible mean?
Convincible is an adjective describing someone who is capable of being convinced or persuaded — a mind that remains open to argument, evidence, or appeals. Where "convincing" characterizes the strength of an argument or speaker, "convincible" characterizes the receptivity of the listener: a convincible juror, for instance, is one whom sound reasoning might still sway. The word derives from Latin roots meaning literally "able to be overcome in argument," combining "con-" (thoroughly) with "vincere" (to conquer) plus the suffix "-ible." Though it entered English in the early modern period alongside related forms like "inconvincible," which Shakespeare used, it has always been comparatively rare. Today it survives mainly in formal, philosophical, or rhetorical contexts, where writers value its precise focus on the persuadable party rather than the persuasive force. Its opposite is "inconvincible" or simply "unpersuadable."
adjectiveCapable of being convinced or persuaded; open to belief through argument or evidence.
- Capable of being convinced, persuaded, or brought to believe something.
"The jury remained convincible until the defense produced its final witness."
"Even the most convincible skeptic would struggle to dismiss evidence that thorough."
"As a young negotiator, she found the client refreshingly convincible once the data was laid out clearly."
Shakespeare's era loved this word so much that "inconvincible" appears in his plays — the stubborn flip side of being persuadable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of convincible
Convincible comes from the Latin verb convincere, formed from the prefix con- ("together, thoroughly") and vincere ("to conquer"), joined with the suffix -ible to mean "capable of being conquered or refuted." It entered English in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, when many Latinate adjectives of capability were coined. The same root vincere also gives English words such as convince, conviction, vanquish, and victory, all preserving the sense of overcoming or prevailing.
Related word forms
How convincible is actually used
A relatively rare and somewhat formal word, far less common than its converse "convincing." It tends to appear in philosophical, legal, or rhetorical discussion when describing a person's susceptibility to argument rather than the strength of an argument itself.
Easily confused with convincible
"Convincing" describes something that persuades others (an active quality), while "convincible" describes someone who can be persuaded (a receptive quality).