When we want to influence or persuade someone, we often use pressure with them. However, there are various synonyms for this phrase that we can employ to avoid sounding pushy or aggressive. For instance, we can use the term "compel" to suggest a sense of necessity without necessarily forcing someone to do something. Another synonym is "impel," which conveys a sense of urging or driving someone towards a particular action. Alternatively, we can use the phrase "apply pressure" in a more subtle way to communicate the idea of influencing someone towards a decision without being too forceful. These synonyms provide us with a range of options to communicate our intentions effectively.