difficult to convince

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to convince" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means that someone or something is not easily persuaded or convinced. Example sentence: It was difficult to convince the stubborn child to eat his vegetables.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm not sure who was more difficult to convince.

The Guardian

Students may be even more difficult to convince.

The New York Times

It's difficult to convince myself otherwise, even now.

The Guardian

It is difficult to convince me that regulation is apolitical.

The Washington Post

It has proven difficult to convince courts of the misuse defense.

Harvard University

"It is difficult to convince families to leave their children here.

The Guardian

"Initially it was difficult to convince people," to part with their extra medicines, Mr. Sharma said.

The New York Times

But, he said, "There wasn't a clear leadership, so it was difficult to convince them".

The New Yorker

Pardus may find it difficult to convince other board members of the need for change.

The Economist

"It's very difficult to convince 12 people to put another person to death," Mr. Bright said.

The New York Times

Extracting it in sufficiently concentrated form is a challenge it's "difficult to convince".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to convince", consider the specific reason for the difficulty. Providing context will make your writing more impactful. For example, instead of just saying 'It was difficult to convince them', specify 'It was difficult to convince them because they had prior negative experiences'.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to convince" without providing any supporting details. Readers need to understand why someone is hard to convince. Omitting this information weakens your argument and leaves the reader wondering about the underlying reasons.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to convince" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a subject, describing the degree of challenge involved in persuading someone. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a common construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to convince" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the challenge of persuading someone. As Ludwig AI explains, it accurately conveys the resistance or effort required to change someone's mind. It's versatile enough for neutral contexts like news and media, but also appears in scientific and formal business writing. To enhance your writing, provide specific reasons why someone is "difficult to convince". Using alternatives such as "hard to persuade" or "challenging to sway" can add variety, but "difficult to convince" remains a clear and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to persuade

Replaces 'convince' with 'persuade', maintaining the core meaning of influencing someone's belief or action.

not easily persuaded

Expresses the resistance to persuasion directly, highlighting the person's unwillingness to change their mind.

unlikely to be convinced

Indicates a low probability of someone being convinced, suggesting a strong pre-existing belief.

challenging to sway

Uses 'sway' instead of 'convince', suggesting a more gentle or indirect form of persuasion.

resistant to influence

Focuses on the person's resistance to any form of external influence.

tough to get through to

Emphasizes the difficulty in making someone understand or accept a point of view.

takes a lot of convincing

Highlights the significant effort required to convince someone, emphasizing the extent of their skepticism.

a hard sell

Uses a business-related idiom to describe the difficulty in convincing someone, implying a need for strong persuasive efforts.

requires strong persuasion

Focuses on the need for powerful persuasive techniques to overcome someone's resistance.

not receptive to arguments

Indicates a lack of openness to logical reasoning or evidence, making persuasion difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to convince" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to convince" to describe someone who is not easily persuaded. For example, "It was "difficult to convince" the board of directors to adopt the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to convince"?

Some alternatives include "hard to persuade", "challenging to sway", or "tough to get through to". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "difficult in convincing" instead of "difficult to convince"?

While "difficult in convincing" might be understood, "difficult to convince" is the more standard and grammatically preferred phrasing. It directly expresses the difficulty in achieving the act of convincing.

What makes someone "difficult to convince"?

Someone might be "difficult to convince" due to strong pre-existing beliefs, lack of trust, insufficient evidence, or a general skepticism toward new ideas.