talk around

phrasal verb

talked around; talking around; talks around
1
: to avoid talking about (a particular subject) especially because it is difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing
They've been talking around the real issue rather than addressing it directly.
2
: to cause (someone) to accept and support something (such as an idea) after opposing it
She says she doesn't agree with it, but we'll talk her around eventually.
often + to
We can talk her around to our way of thinking.

Examples of talk around in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a talk around the institution’s history, Douglas stresses the role of curiosity in innovation, noting that there’s been a lot of change over the years. John Werner, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Macon Blair clarifies the talk around a more risqué scene that leaked online. EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Like customer-service bots, or H.R. directors, checkers and writers talk around things. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 But all the talk around the Browns after their first preseason game last week was about Sanders, as he was named the starter by head coach Kevin Stefanski and played well into the third quarter. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025 Multiple times, Stefanski deflected or talked around questions about whether Sanders’ performance would affect the team’s thinking or division of reps in the ongoing quarterback competition. Zac Jackson, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025 Historically, Summer League has sparked some trade talks around the NBA. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 July 2025 On top of a dedicated program of showcases, panels, workshops and talks around small-screen players on July 8 and 9, the festival will host the Pop Up Series Incubator, a new series development program designed to support European producers and scriptwriters. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 5 July 2025 The scene may be over a decade old now, but Williams didn’t mind reigniting the talk around that intimate exchange, especially as Girls was already heading toward a new wave of viewership. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Talk around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talk%20around. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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