What does persuadable mean?
Persuadable means capable of being persuaded or receptive to reasoning, evidence, or an appeal to one's interests or principles. A persuadable person is not necessarily passive or easily manipulated: persuadability implies willingness to listen and consider a change of view, while the circumstances may still require a convincing argument. The word is often strengthened by adverbs such as “readily,” “easily,” and “highly,” as in “a readily persuadable audience.” It can also carry a mildly critical implication when someone changes position too readily, although its basic meaning is neutral. Persuadable is distinct from persuasive, which describes someone or something capable of influencing others, and from compliant, which implies acting in accordance with instructions or wishes. Together, the words describe complementary capacities: a listener may be persuadable, while an advocate is persuasive.
adjectiveCapable of being persuaded or receptive to persuasion.
- Capable of being persuaded or receptive to persuasion.
"The council members were persuadable once they heard a clear explanation of the proposal."
"She was persuadable, but only after considering the issue from her opponent's point of view."
"The negotiators reached a persuadable audience and secured agreement to the revised plan."
Persuadable describes what even the best persuasive argument cannot manufacture: a listener who is genuinely willing to change their mind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does persuadable come from?
English “persuade” comes from Latin persuadere, formed from per-, meaning thoroughly or intensively, and suadere, meaning to urge or recommend. English “persuadable” was formed with the suffix “-able,” expressing that someone is capable of being persuaded. Its relatives “persuasion” and “persuasive” come from the same Latin root and semantic family.
Related word forms
How persuadable is actually used
The word is neutral in register and is especially common in predicative constructions such as “readily persuadable.” It generally describes a person or audience rather than an object or situation.
Easily confused with persuadable
Persuadable describes someone who can be persuaded, whereas persuasive describes an argument, person, or method that is effective at persuading others.