as in cajoling
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wheedling
Verb
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What good is a data-sharing collaboration where no one (at least without coaxing) wants to share data?—
Dhiraj Bhat,
Forbes,
19 Dec. 2024 -
Tech companies are slowly but surely coaxing filmmakers into tinkering with their AI tools.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The president's prediction that Vladimir Putin would heed his entreaties to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours is stretching into Month Five.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
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The Russian isn’t heeding the president’s entreaties to stop the killing in Ukraine, and Mr. Trump is nonplussed.—
The Wall Street Journal,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2025
Noun
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On the other side of the classroom wall giggling erupted, which rendered my exhortations futile.—
Sally Ventura
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
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Those listening filled his chestnut exhortations with their unfocussed yearnings.—
Deborah Baker
June 3,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The aim is ensuring that such payments compensate athletes for their right of publicity, and are not used as inducements to recruit or retain an athlete.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2025
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The Trump administration’s real agenda is the inspiration of fear and the inducement of conformity.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Impressed by the senator’s blandishments, the egoistic journalist argues military strategy and then faces a moment of conscience.—
Armond White,
National Review,
17 May 2023
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People want to hear blandishments about engagement and infrastructure.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2023
Noun
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In this newest cover-up, Clooney repeats his film’s original failing — its nostalgic salute to the power of electronic media suasion.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
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Finally, the original Concert vision embraced formal deliberation and moral suasion as the key mechanism of collaborative foreign policy.—
Stacie E. Goddard,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wheedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheedling. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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