as in coaxing
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
cajoled her into doing his laundry for him
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Recent Examples of cajoling
Europe has long underspent on defense, and where American cajoling for decades had not worked, a few face slaps succeeded.
—
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Although Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina went along, Indiana did not -- despite cajoling and insults from the president and the possibility of primary challenges.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025
Mamdani has steadfastly refused to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and no amount of cajoling by the head of the New York Board of Rabbis has changed his mind.
—Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Like back in 2013, UCLA excused alumni cheerleader Geof Strand after 38 years of cajoling fans into cheering for the home team.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
But, rather than give up, Azel became a pickleball advocate, tirelessly educating, lobbying and cajoling politicians, park directors and anyone else who would listen about the incredible growth of the sport nation-wide.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Touches five and six are merely the cajoling preamble to the pièce de résistance, aka touch seven, a piercing through ball which splits defender Goncalo Inacio and backtracking forward Geny Catamo like a warm bread knife through a ciabatta roll straight out of Mama’s oven.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Getting anything done is hard and takes persuading, cajoling, or even sucking up, depending on who is at the receiving end.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
After years of cajoling workers, employers are taking a harder line.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Although Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina went along, Indiana did not -- despite cajoling and insults from the president and the possibility of primary challenges.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025
Mamdani has steadfastly refused to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and no amount of cajoling by the head of the New York Board of Rabbis has changed his mind.
—Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Like back in 2013, UCLA excused alumni cheerleader Geof Strand after 38 years of cajoling fans into cheering for the home team.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
But, rather than give up, Azel became a pickleball advocate, tirelessly educating, lobbying and cajoling politicians, park directors and anyone else who would listen about the incredible growth of the sport nation-wide.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Touches five and six are merely the cajoling preamble to the pièce de résistance, aka touch seven, a piercing through ball which splits defender Goncalo Inacio and backtracking forward Geny Catamo like a warm bread knife through a ciabatta roll straight out of Mama’s oven.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Getting anything done is hard and takes persuading, cajoling, or even sucking up, depending on who is at the receiving end.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
After years of cajoling workers, employers are taking a harder line.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cajoling
coaxing
Verb
-
Quietly confident — In spite of all that, Waymo is confident that its vehicles won’t take too much coaxing to get used to London roads.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
His father, Nerijus, played basketball in Lithuania and had a helping hand in coaxing the twins’ return.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cajoling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cajoling. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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