as in to coax
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
she can sweet-talk her besotted boyfriend into just about anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in butter
excessive praise
enough of this sweet talk—just give me your honest opinion of my performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sweet-talk
Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
When you're isolated, that sweet-talking stranger starts looking pretty appealing.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2024
Know when to say no, and refuse to let anyone sweet talk you into something that eats up your time, offering limited return.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Verb
Then, after Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in mid-August, a group of European leaders, including Zelensky, flocked to Washington in a collective effort to sweet-talk Trump.
—Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
When you're isolated, that sweet-talking stranger starts looking pretty appealing.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
When things aren’t working on a practical level, though, no amount of sweet talk can cover that up.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2024
Know when to say no, and refuse to let anyone sweet talk you into something that eats up your time, offering limited return.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweet-talk
Verb
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On Wednesday morning, well before the school run started, Mary Granlund was attempting to coax her dog outside for a brief walk in negative-two-degree weather, and her phone was already pinging with texts.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
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
Noun
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Save some room for the brown butter almond cake at the end, which sounds deceptively simple but is the very definition of delicious with whimsical plating and delicious—and complex—flavors.—
Asonta Benetti,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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The Murgh Makani at Everest Gorkhali Kitchen in Tucker resembles the Punjabi classic butter chicken, but with a slightly smokier profile.—
Angela Hansberger,
AJC.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Practical self-care items such as thick lotions, face masks and soft soaps that don’t irritate skin. Pragmatic.—
Ellen T. Meiser,
The Conversation,
5 Dec. 2025
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People should wash any skin that comes into contact with the slurry with water and soft soap, before using a hand cream to avoid dryness and cracking.—
Lauren Penington,
The Denver Post,
2 Sep. 2024
Noun
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The Pitt has earned high praise from the medical community for its depiction of life in the emergency department.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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Twenty minutes after the final whistle and Corinthians players lingered on the pitch while the fans continued to sing songs and hurl praise at the heroes.—
Theo Lloyd-Hughes,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The flattery must forever escalate and grow more fawning, until every follower’s dignity is shorn away.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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In recent months, Europeans have mostly opted for diplomacy and flattery around him, even when seeking an end to the war in Ukraine.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The store also has some more traditional candy and a large assortment of taffy.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
19 Jan. 2026
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So, go ahead, give a pound of peanut-butter fudge from Chatham Candy Manor ($20), or two pounds of Shriver’s taffy ($30), or a tin of Peppermint Divinity from the Vermont Country Store ($17), or a tub of Dubble Bubble ($19).—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Now a household name, Latin artist Luis Miguel amassed acclaim at a young age.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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The Canadian American performer earned acclaim playing eccentric characters across film and television, from comedic roles to dramatic parts in prestige productions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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