convinced

1. 1
   adjective

   Holding a firm belief that something is true, usually on the basis of evidence though not always.

   The jury seemed convinced of his innocence after the final witness spoke.

   He remained convinced that the experiment would succeed, despite repeated setbacks.

   Similarcertain, sure, confident, satisfied, positive

   Oppositeunconvinced, doubtful, skeptical, uncertain

   Note

   Here the word describes a state rather than an action, and the test for it is degree: someone can be more convinced, or most convinced, which a plain past-tense verb never allows. It often takes a clause with that left out (he was convinced he was a great singer). It reports the believer's certainty, not whether the belief is right, so the conviction may rest on very little.

2. 2
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of convince.

   The salesman convinced them to buy the more expensive model.

   By morning she had convinced herself that the risk was worth taking.

   Note

   One regular spelling does double duty here: the simple past (we convinced him) and the participle after have or be (we had convinced him; he was convinced by the evidence). Older writing can carry meanings now obsolete, where convinced meant refuted, overcome, or even proved guilty, close to convicted. Once it takes very or more, it has become the adjective of firm belief.

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