unpersuasive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unpersuasive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an argument, statement, or piece of evidence that fails to convince or persuade someone of a particular point of view. Example: "The lawyer's argument was unpersuasive, leading the jury to doubt the validity of the claims."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That the court declined to defer here suggests that it found the arguments from the Obama administration to be not simply unpersuasive but wholly without foundation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet the judge called Morgan's assertion that he had no knowledge of alleged phone hacking "utterly unpersuasive".

The Guardian

But the various reasons offered by the British and American governments as to why the nightmarish arsenals that they conjured up have so far failed to materialise are unpersuasive.

The Economist

But the statement was also a tacit admission that at the previous debate, two weeks before, Mr Obama had seemed disengaged and unpersuasive.

The Economist

The Epicureans feared love as a kind of madness that overcomes the rational soul in the fourth book of his "De Rerum Natura", Lucretius gives a marvellously dyspeptic account of romance that is convincing if you have just fallen out of love but unpersuasive if you are falling in.

The Economist

That the baby is too young to remember what happened is for many child-rights advocates an unpersuasive argument.

The Economist

Oregon!" with the unpersuasive legend "state of uncertainty".7 57: Another Caputo gem: Remember the popular vote because of Al Gore in 2000.

The Economist

The man added that he once lived in East Germany, where he had seen how rapidly the slide can occur, once citizens lack weapons.Charlemagne found this unpersuasive, even if, surrounded by assault rifles and handguns, he was too polite to admit it.

The Economist

But this display, while attractive, is unpersuasive: an artist can see an object, even be captivated by it, without it having a lasting influence; yet such an influence is claimed.

The Economist

Combined with his prognostications of doom, the effect is to defend his shabby chancellorship from critics, rivals and possible ministerial bloodletting.The furore over Mr Darling's comments—he also acknowledged that voters were "pissed off" with the unpersuasive government overshadowed the little fillips for homebuyers and –owners announced on September 2nd (see article).

The Economist

But there is no need for additional unpersuasive criticisms of American policy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To reinforce your arguments and make them strong, you can provide examples to contrast the "unpersuasive" points you are trying to counter.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "unpersuasive" without explaining why. Provide specific details about the flaws or weaknesses in the argument to make your critique more effective.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unpersuasive" functions to describe something that fails to convince or persuade. According to Ludwig, it's usable in written English and implies a lack of compelling quality in an argument, statement, or evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unpersuasive" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective to describe something that fails to convince. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Economist. It’s crucial to provide context when using "unpersuasive" to strengthen your critique. Related phrases include "not convincing" and "weak argument". The word is appropriate for neutral contexts, spanning across news, encyclopedias, and scientific discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not convincing

Directly states the lack of ability to convince.

weak argument

Focuses on the inadequacy of the argument itself.

flimsy rationale

Emphasizes the poor reasoning behind something.

dubious claim

Highlights the doubtful nature of a statement.

tenuous justification

Implies the justification is weak and easily challenged.

inadequate support

Focuses on the lack of sufficient evidence or reasoning.

untenable position

Suggests the stance cannot be defended or maintained.

unsound reasoning

Highlights flaws in the logical process.

fallacious reasoning

Highlights flaws in the logical process due to a fallacy.

not compelling

Indicates a failure to capture interest or agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "unpersuasive" in a sentence?

You can use "unpersuasive" to describe arguments or statements that fail to convince. For example, "The lawyer's argument was "unpersuasive", leading the jury to doubt the validity of the claims."

What are some alternatives to saying "unpersuasive"?

Alternatives include "not convincing", "weak argument", or "flimsy rationale" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unpersuasive argument" or "non-persuasive argument"?

"Unpersuasive argument" is generally preferred and more commonly used. While "non-persuasive argument" is technically correct, it's less idiomatic.

What's the difference between "unpersuasive" and "ineffective"?

"Unpersuasive" specifically refers to the failure to convince, while "ineffective" is broader and can refer to a failure to achieve any desired outcome. Something can be ineffective without being specifically unpersuasive.