Synonyms of wheedle

wheedle

verb

ˈ(h)wē-dᵊl 

as in to coax

to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery

wheedled him into doing their work for them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coax
• cajole
• seduce
• lure
• entice
• sweet-talk
• woo
• beg
• soft-soap
• blandish
• urge
• palaver
• tempt
• wangle
• blarney
• beseech
• flatter
• importune
• massage
• charm
• finagle
• overpraise
• juggle
• butter up
• wile
• cozen
• adulate
• beguile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tease
• harass
• bug
• pester
• intimidate
• cow
• nag
• coerce
• bully
• compel
• require
• force
• make
• browbeat
• constrain
• oblige
• demand
• bulldoze

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wheedle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wheedle are blandish, cajole, coax, and soft-soap. While all these words mean "to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions," wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading.

hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her

When could blandish be used to replace wheedle?

Although the words blandish and wheedle have much in common, blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions.

legislators blandished with promises of support

In what contexts can cajole take the place of wheedle?

While the synonyms cajole and wheedle are close in meaning, cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections.

cajoled him into cheating on the final exam

When can coax be used instead of wheedle?

In some situations, the words coax and wheedle are roughly equivalent. However, coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect.

coaxed the cat out of the tree

When is soft-soap a more appropriate choice than wheedle?

The synonyms soft-soap and wheedle are sometimes interchangeable, but soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain.

politicians soft-soaping eligible voters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wheedle

The grubbing and wheedling correspondence of Prince Andrew and Fergie as told by Craig Brown Air Supply The Constant Gardener Spring is in the air, and AIR SUPPLY’s latest collection is ripe for the picking. —airmail.news, 23 Mar. 2024

Muffin, the show’s resident chaos-causing cousin, has been wheedled into filming an unboxing-style video by her father, Stripe, who has once again reached for the parenting stars but landed somewhere significantly south of his goal. —Vulture Staff, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024

Kassar had wheedled an extra $40 million out of a European banking syndicate just so the film could cross the finish line. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

At a pricey June 3 gala at the Supreme Court, liberal documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor took on a conservative persona to wheedle controversial comments out of the judge, who’s recently come under fire for flying flags associated with Trump supporters at his homes. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 10 June 2024

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