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
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Their state leaders can both sweet-talk Democrats into switching parties and pull out numbers showing one good Republican opponent could end a Democrat’s decades of public service.
—Jeffrey Collins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 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
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Your ability to sweet-talk others might find its limit today.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Their state leaders can both sweet-talk Democrats into switching parties and pull out numbers showing one good Republican opponent could end a Democrat’s decades of public service.
—Jeffrey Collins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 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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Khan coaxed him back into the mix, firing general manager Trent Baalke to signal a complete organizational overhaul.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Collectively, these voices are coaxed by Cockerell, who has a keen ear and fine sense of timing, into becoming some of recent literature’s most compelling narrators.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The original recipe calls for cashew butter in the topping, but peanut butter or almond butter will work as well.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2025
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Look for paleta shakes, waffle bowls and burritos, vegan dark chocolate and cookie butter, as well as mango, passion fruit and more.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 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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The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
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Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but not for Bobby Brown.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
16 Apr. 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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Despite struggling to find distribution in the U.S., No Other Land earned wide critical acclaim (and some criticism) ahead of its Best Documentary win at the 2025 Oscars.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
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In 2016, Fierstein reprised his iconic Broadway role as Edna Turnblad in NBC’s Hairspray Live!, to great acclaim.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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