moral suasion

moral suasion (plural moral suasions)

1. (ethics) Persuasion brought to bear by appeals to someone's moral sense or ethics.
   • 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry for Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 133:

     The temperance movement also exacerbated ethnic tensions. Before 1850 this movement had been primarily one of self-denial and moral suasion aimed at persuading the Protestant middle and working classes to cast out demon rum and become sober, hard-working, upward-striving citizens.