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

The 4B movement seems a lot less interested in cajoling men to alter their views or actions, and more in creating female solidarity and protecting women's safety.

From Salon

District Judge Tanya Chutkan rules, a higher court could forbid consideration of much of Trump’s cajoling of Pence on the ground that it would threaten to intrude on executive authority.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Finding those intangible advantages; an unlikely but successful partnership, cajoling an out-of-form player into an unerring demon, identifying your team’s strengths and exposing an opponent’s weakness.

From BBC

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

Related Words

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