Synonyms

cajole

American

[kuh-johl] / kəˈdʒoʊl /

verb (used with or without object)

cajoled, cajoling

to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

cajole British

/ kəˈdʒəʊl /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

cajolement noun
cajoler noun
cajolery noun
cajolingly adverb
uncajoling adjective

Etymology

Origin of cajole

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

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.

No one should be cajoled into paying for a property that they never use and no longer wish to own.

From MarketWatch

He has complied with court orders, even if the administration’s attorneys have required cajoling by district judges on the matter of immigration.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mother and others who are riding on donkeys must step down and cajole the donkeys to keep moving, and it’s almost impossible to maneuver the carts.

From Literature

He cajoled Harrison Ford to do more publicity for February’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” managed “princess week” at Disney theme parks and online, and is integrating the Disney+ and Hulu marketing teams.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023