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
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Recent Examples of sweet-talk
Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
Valya’s plan: Francesca will sweet-talk the Emperor into going back to the old ways and convince him to make Constantine the empire’s fleet commander.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
John Benson, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Cuban boleros, street-corner sweet talk, Mexican songs, Frank Sinatra ballads, and Frankie Laine melodramas . . .
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Verb
Instead of sweet-talking your way out of a parking ticket, admit your mistake and pay the fine.
—Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
Valya’s plan: Francesca will sweet-talk the Emperor into going back to the old ways and convince him to make Constantine the empire’s fleet commander.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
During the ride to the police station, the driver was trying to sweet talk the officer into not arresting him and instead letting his wife pick him up.
—John Benson, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Cuban boleros, street-corner sweet talk, Mexican songs, Frank Sinatra ballads, and Frankie Laine melodramas . . .
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweet-talk
Verb
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As law enforcement agencies cannot recruit an adequate number of officers, they’ve been reduced to coaxing applicants with large monetary bonuses.—
Paula Fitzsimmons,
Boston Herald,
13 May 2025
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Once the cucumbers start to vine, coax the vines to climb the trellis by twining them around the trellis with your fingers and securing them in place, if needed, with plant clips or garden twine.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Nuts and Nut Butters Nuts and nut butters contain a good amount of protein in small servings.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
12 May 2025
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Place bacon fat and butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
12 May 2025
Noun
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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
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Most of the questions aimed at the ironic American director of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas were less softballs than soft soap, with reporters as interested in Scorsese’s favorite food — his mother’s lasagna recipe — as the movies in his peerless filmography.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
20 Feb. 2024
Noun
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While the band’s members did not directly reference the Trump administration’s efforts to defund the organizations, RFE/RL president and CEO Stephen Capus was more direct in his praise for the song and the group’s efforts to help shine a light on the services’ vital work.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
2 May 2025
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Other rival evaluators heaped similar praise on the 19-year-old Lombard, the Yankees’ top prospect who has had a hot start at High-A Hudson Valley and could be in the major-league starting infield by next season.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Sometimes my brother steals my puns, which should be the greatest form of flattery.—
Elana Rabinowitz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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So much so, in fact, that schoolchildren have started using her name as a form of flattery.—
Daniel Rodgers,
Vogue,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
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Boucher was on the hunt for Abba-Zaba, a chewy taffy bar with a real peanut butter center.—
Jessica Ma,
Sacramento Bee,
20 July 2024
Noun
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Premiering in January 2023, The Traitors has gone on to widespread acclaim, even winning Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program (Alan Cumming on cunning form).—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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The fact that expectation levels are high for Culpa Nuestra is no surprise given the success of the previous films, which are short on critical acclaim but are beloved by fans around the world.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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