What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
exhort
Example
The coach exhorted the team to give their all in the game. [exhorted: past tense]
Example
The speaker exhorted the audience to take action against climate change. [exhorting: present participle]
persuade
Example
I tried to persuade my friend to come to the party with me. [persuade: verb]
Example
The advertisement was designed to persuade customers to buy the product. [persuade: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Persuade is more commonly used than exhort in everyday language. Persuade is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while exhort is less common and often associated with specific situations, such as sports or religious gatherings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between exhort and persuade?
Both exhort and persuade can be used in formal and informal contexts, but persuade is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both academic and everyday language.