WHEEDLE Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

wheedle

verb

ˈ(h)wē-dᵊl

Definition of wheedle next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Examples of wheedle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His obsession was money—making it, hoarding it, wheedling it out of all and sundry. —

Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2023 So the question now is: Can the Adams administration, which has been fairly good about tossing out ideas, get better at the boring, crummy business of outreach and wheedling that transforms rhetoric into brick and concrete and thus avoid the fate of Kathy Hochul’s housing plan? —

Curbed, 21 Sep. 2023 Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Many bosses have demanded, requested, or wheedled their staff to return to the office over the past year, often to minimal effect. —

Caitlin Harrington, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2023 But if everything went well, there was a chance to wheedle the two warring sides into some sort of agreement that would culminate in the nation’s president, Ashraf Ghani, resigning from office, beginning an orderly transfer of power to a governing coalition that included the Taliban. —

Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wheedle

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wheedle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.