cajole

[ kuh-johl ]

verb (used with or without object)

, ca·joled, ca·jol·ing.

1. to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

cajole

/ kəˈdʒəʊl /

verb

1. to persuade (someone) by flattery or pleasing talk to do what one wants; wheedle; coax

Derived Forms

• caˈjoler, noun
• caˈjolement, noun
• caˈjolingly, adverb
• caˈjolery, noun

Other Words From

• ca·jolement noun
• ca·joler noun
• ca·joling·ly adverb
• unca·joling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cajole¹

1635–45; < French cajoler to cajole or chatter like a jaybird, apparently derivative of *cajole birdcage (< Late Latin caveola < Latin cave ( a ) cage + -ola -ole ¹( def ) ) + -er infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cajole¹

C17: from French cajoler to coax, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

It is not women's responsibility to use sex to cajole men into sucking less.

From Salon

Pence seems to have mounted a campaign to flatter and cajole Trump into giving up on his lies about the 2020 election and accepting defeat.

From Salon

Biden, who often felt confident he could charm and cajole difficult leaders into concessions, might have taken them on despite their unsavory characteristics.

From Los Angeles Times

“The US and Qatar can push, they can cajole, they can offer inducements, they can offer to help create the technical solutions,” says Chuck Freilich.

From BBC

Making community theater, one often has to beg, borrow and steal to cast a show, so it’s not out of the question that Rita might cajole a blue-collar worker like Dan into a rehearsal.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• entice
• entrap
• seduce
• tantalize
• tempt
• wheedle