cajole

[kuh-johl] / kəˈdʒoʊl /

VERB

attempt to coax; flatter

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceive delude dupe entice entrap seduce tantalize tempt wheedle

STRONG

banter beguile blandish bootlick con induce influence inveigle jolly lure maneuver mislead oil push snow soap soft-soap soften stroke sweet-talk urge

WEAK

apple-polish argue into brown-nose butter up get around get next to hand a line lay it on thick make up to play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work on work over

Antonyms

STRONG

discourage dissuade

WEAK

bully force

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His goal is to talk up the VW agreement to cajole workers at Mercedes and other foreign plants into unionizing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Belgium's outspoken prime minister Bart De Wever will be in the spotlight as his EU counterparts -- most of whom back the plan -- try to cajole him to accept.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

My mother did her best to cajole me into going.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 27, 2025

“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 • Aug. 15, 2024

I visit them daily in their spacious glass dishes, and like any good mother I cajole, I celebrate when they reproduce, and I take special note when they behave oddly.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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