4 syllables: con, vin, cing, ly. Stress on vin.
kuhn-VIN-sing-lee
/kəˈnvɪnsɪŋli/
convincingly is pronounced kuhn-VIN-sing-lee (/kəˈnvɪnsɪŋli/). It has four syllables (con-vin-cing-ly), with the stress on "vin". Convincingly means in a way that persuades or proves something with credibility, clarity, and persuasive force. It denotes performing or presenting in a manner that would lead someone to accept a claim as true, often through logical argument, evidence, and confident delivery. The adverb emphasizes the manner of convincing rather than the degree of belief alone, tying to how convincingly something is stated or argued.
Convincingly means in a way that persuades or proves something with credibility, clarity, and persuasive force. It denotes performing or presenting in a manner that would lead someone to accept a claim as true, often through logical argument, evidence, and confident delivery. The adverb emphasizes the manner of convincing rather than the degree of belief alone, tying to how convincingly something is stated or argued.
"She spoke convincingly about the project’s benefits, and the investors nodded in agreement."
"The defense attorney argued convincingly, leaving little doubt about the defendant’s innocence."
"He presented the data convincingly, citing sources and methodology clearly."
Pronunciation: /kənˈvɪnsɪŋli/ in US and UK, with /ˈvɪn/ stressed as the second syllable. Break it as con-VINC-ing-ly. Start with a schwa + n, then emphasize the short “i” in VIN and the nasal -sing- sequence, finishing with -ly. Mouth: keep the soft ‘c’ as /s/ before i, avoid tensing the jaw, and let the final /li/ be light. For an audio reference, listen to phrases like ‘convincingly argued’ on pronunciation platforms to hear the natural rhythm in connected speech.
Common mistakes: 1) Not stressing the second syllable: misplacing the primary stress on con- instead of -VIN-. 2) Slurring the -sɪŋ- into -sing- without separating the syllables, which makes it sound like ‘convince-ing-ly.’ 3) Dropping the final -ly or pronouncing it as -ly with a dull /li/ instead of a light, quick /lɪ/ or /li/. Corrections: rehearse con-VIN-səng-lee, ensuring a clear /ɪ/ in VIN, a separate -sɪŋ- cluster, and a light ending with /li/. Practice word-by-word in isolation then in a sentence to cement rhythm.
US: /kənˈvɪnsɪŋli/ with rhoticity affecting the preceding consonants and a slightly reduced schwa in the first syllable. UK: /kənˈvɪnsɪŋli/ similar, but might feature stronger non-rhoticity on surrounding words; vowel quality in VIN could be a tighter /ɪ/ in some varieties. AU: often more clipped vowels and a slightly broader /æ/ in ‘convincing’ in some dialects, but the stress remains on VIN; final -ly can be pronounced with a lighter, quicker /li/. Overall, primary stress remains on the second syllable, the main vowels are short /ɪ/, with a consistent /ŋ/ before -li.
The difficulty centers on: 1) accurate placement of primary stress on VIN while maintaining natural rhythm in fast speech. 2) The sequence -vɪn- + -sɪŋ- creates a cluster that can blur without clear vowel sounds; keep /ɪ/ in VIN and a crisp /sɪŋ/ for clarity. 3) Final -ly attaches smoothly to the previous syllable; ensure the /l/ is light and the /i/ is not a full vowel, so the ending isn’t elongated. Mastery requires careful control of vowel quality, syllable timing, and a clean velar/ng combo.
A unique aspect is the transition from the stressed /ˈvɪn/ to the /sɪŋ/ cluster, where the /ɪ/ is short and the nasal /ŋ/ is immediately followed by /li/. This makes the syllable boundary subtle in fast speech; you should keep the vowel short in VIN, avoid an uptick into a long /ɪ/ or /iː/ and let the /ŋ/ carry the syllabic weight into the final /li/. Practicing with minimal pairs around /vɪn/ vs /vɪnz/ helps lock this boundary.
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Convincingly derives from the adjective convince, which comes from the Latin convincere, itself from con- (together) + vincere (to conquer, overcome). The sense evolved from “to overcome doubt” to “to persuade with argument.” The adverbial -ly form appeared as English syntax expanded to express manner. First recorded uses of convince appear in Middle English (late 14th–15th centuries) with senses related to overcoming objections through argument or demonstration. Over centuries, the word accumulated nuances tied to rhetorical effectiveness and credibility, culminating in modern usage where convincingly describes the manner of persuasion in speech or writing. The progression reflects shifting emphasis from mere belief to credible, evidence-backed persuasion. In academic and professional contexts, convincingly signals not just truth, but an effective communication of truth. Etymologically, the root vinc- interacts with prefixes con- and the suffix -ly, producing a term that embodies both action (to convince) and manner (how it is done). Historically, Latin influence on English provided a robust framework for adverbs to describe manner in fine-grained professional language, which is why convincingly feels formal and precise in most contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "convincingly"
-tly sounds
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