wheedle

[ weed-l, hweed-l ]

verb (used with object)

, whee·dled, whee·dling.

1. to endeavor to influence (a person) by smooth, flattering, or beguiling words or acts:

   We wheedled him incessantly, but he would not consent.

   Synonyms: coax, cajole, flatter

2. to persuade (a person) by such words or acts:

   She wheedled him into going with her.

3. to obtain (something) by artful persuasions:

   I wheedled a new car out of my father.

   Synonyms: inveigle, beguile

verb (used without object)

, whee·dled, whee·dling.

1. to use beguiling or artful persuasions:

   I always wheedle if I really need something.

wheedle

/ ˈwiːdəl /

verb

1. to persuade or try to persuade (someone) by coaxing words, flattery, etc
2. tr to obtain by coaxing and flattery

   she wheedled some money out of her father

Derived Forms

• ˈwheedlingly, adverb
• ˈwheedler, noun
• ˈwheedling, adjective

Other Words From

• whee·dler noun
• whee·dling·ly adverb
• un·whee·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheedle¹

First recorded in 1655–65; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheedle¹

C17: perhaps from German wedeln to wag one's tail, from Old High German wedil, wadil tail

Example Sentences

Give McCarthy his due: All that butt smooching worked, kind of, allowing him to wheedle his way into his dream job for 11 not-so-glorious months.

From Seattle Times

The novel opens as she tries to convince the wealthy Hong Kong Wongs to invest in the dilapidated local community center — and to wheedle out of them a substantial finder’s fee to which she has, at best, a tenuous claim.

From Los Angeles Times

And he tried to wheedle his White House counsel into firing Mueller.

From Slate

The arsonists wheedle their way into his house with a combination of servile pleading, subtle bullying and appeals to Biedermann’s moral vanity.

From Seattle Times

To do so, he said, “I’ve had to shove, push, cajole, persuade, wheedle, exaggerate, manipulate, flatter, be obnoxious, occasionally lie, and always sell.”

From Washington Post

Related Words

• cajole
• finagle