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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sweet-talk
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Instead of sweet-talking your way out of a parking ticket, admit your mistake and pay the fine.
—Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 18 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
That night, Mel watches in delight as Jack sweet-talks Charmaine’s twins.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Instead of sweet-talking your way out of a parking ticket, admit your mistake and pay the fine.
—Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 18 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
-
At the burgeoning flower farm, Hutchison coaxes beautiful, sustainable, cut flowers to life.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
28 June 2025
-
Nothing because for most of his impeccable run at the restaurant Providence in Los Angeles—searing the finest fish to glistening perfection, coaxing layers of depth from an uni custard—Michelin wasn’t even registering the work.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Although not a traditional Italian dish, Alfredo sauce is made of butter, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, pasta water, and seasoning.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
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Hoping to conjure the same smoky flavor in his tiny kitchen, where there was no grill, Prudhomme dragged a fillet of redfish through butter, seasoned it with spices and threw it into a smoking-hot skillet.—
Boyce Upholt,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
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 Monster Hunter Wilds received a lot of praise at launch, the longer-term fortunes of the game four months later have been dismal.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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However, Khanna offered rare praise of Trump’s presidential campaign, approving of his promise from the 2024 election not to get into new wars.—
Grace Hagerman,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Excessive flattery of a doting father—who could prosecute this?—
Nan Z. Da
June 10,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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Other audience members carefully phrased their questions with a balance of flattery and inquiry, asking what makes Hermès stronger than other fashion companies.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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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Understanding how shy Jones was, Morrison joined her for interviews and used her own literary capital (Sula had recently appeared to acclaim) to advocate for her work.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
24 June 2025
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The British American royal and entrepreneur, 43, shared a behind-the-scenes teaser for her lifestyle brand, which launched in April to fan acclaim, in an Instagram post June 23.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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