cajoled
/kəˈdʒoʊld/
VERB
1. Persuaded someone through flattery or gentle urging
Past tense and past participle of cajole; to have persuaded someone to do something they were reluctant to do, especially through flattery, pleasant words, or promises.
1.1. Gentle persuasion or coaxing
Persuaded someone to do something through patient, gentle, and persistent encouragement rather than force.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- dissuaded
- discouraged
- deterred
Examples
- She cajoled her friends into joining her on the road trip.
- The children were cajoled into finishing their vegetables with the promise of dessert.
Related Words
- encouraged
- induced
- convinced
- influenced
1.2. Persuasion through flattery or sweet talk
Persuaded someone by using compliments, charming language, praise, or flattering promises to gain their cooperation.
Synonyms
- flattered
- blandished
- sweet-talked
- buttered up
- charmed
- adulated
- soft-soaped
Antonyms
- browbeat
- bullied
- intimidated
- coerced
- forced
Examples
- He cajoled his parents into buying him a new video game by promising to improve his grades.
- The manager cajoled her employees into working overtime with praise and promises.
Related Words
- complimented
- praised
- wooed
- ingratiated
1.3. Persuasion through enticement or manipulation
Persuaded someone by appealing to their desires, offering incentives, or using clever and sometimes misleading tactics.
Synonyms
Examples
- She cajoled him into accepting the offer with promises of future benefits.
- The salesman cajoled customers into buying products they had not intended to purchase.
Related Words
- manipulated
- seduced
- beseeched
- importuned
- beseeched