persuade
     v 1: win approval or support for; "Carry all before one"; "His
          speech did not sway the voters" [syn: {carry}, {sway}]
     2: cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or
        course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't
        persuade me to buy this ugly vase!" [ant: {dissuade}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0