cajole

[ kuh-johl ]

/ kəˈdʒoʊl /

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See synonyms for: cajole / cajoling / cajoler on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object), ca·joled, ca·jol·ing.

to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

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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 -ole¹) + -er infinitive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM cajole

ca·jole·ment, nounca·jol·er, nounca·jol·ing·ly, adverbun·ca·jol·ing, adjective

Words nearby cajole

Caius, Cajal, Cajan, cajeput, cajeputol, cajole, cajolery, Cajun, cajuput, cake, caked breast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cajole in a sentence

It cajoles them into discarding whatever taboos might be left at this point.
The complicated, often cynical politics of fighting for democracy|Philip Bump|August 4, 2022|Washington Post
I think putting one woman at the top can probably do more good than trying to cajole five men into following some fixed set of principles.
I Spent 80 Minutes Inside Vitalik Buterin's Brain. Here's What I Learned|Andrew R. Chow|March 21, 2022|Time
He is captured on tape cajoling and threatening Georgia’s secretary of state to find him the 11,780 votes he needed for a victory in that state.
Merrick Garland Must Follow Through With His Commitment to Hold All January 6 Perpetrators Accountable|Joyce White Vance|January 6, 2022|Time
It basically cajoles the cell into pumping out proteins it doesn’t usually make—ones that can override mutated or deficient ones.
New ‘Universal Switch’ Lets Scientists Fine-Tune Gene Therapy|Shelly Fan|August 3, 2021|Singularity Hub

Popular science articles that make confident claims about parenting on the basis of shoddy evidence can fuel the fire—giving mommy-shamers unwarranted confidence to scold and cajole parents.
Science Isn’t Here for Your Mommy Shaming - Issue 100: Outsiders|Cailin O'Connor|May 19, 2021|Nautilus
Jim had to cajole me, as it was already late, and I was lounging around in sweats, book in hand.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is also trying to inspire, cajole, exhort, or shame us Catholics and others of goodwill into living our calling.
A Catholic Ex-Banker on Pope Francis’s Radical Views|Chris Lowney|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I recall mentioning that in the past to others: her using her femininity to cajole, to persuade.
The Margaret Thatcher I Knew|Jamie Dettmer|April 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But fan armies have mostly gained notoriety for their propensity to harass and cajole.
Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Lady Gaga’s Fan Armies Rally on Twitter|Tricia Romano|January 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If you'd like to inquire, discuss, or simply cajole the tech-friendly representative, here's the link.
Darrell Issa's Attempt to Woo Reddit|Justin Green|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Changing his tactics he tried to cajole him and offered him money, but with similar want of success.
Hunted and Harried|R.M. Ballantyne
"He thinks to cajole me," whispered the fell demon Distrust, and her heart changed to steel.
Alone|Marion Harland
In vain they tried to bulldoze and cajole, to push and to pull, to plead with and to denounce the obstinate Nancy Jane.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
Ever there were his insidious wiles to compromise, cajole, trick and betray them.
The Devil|Joseph O'Brien
They were in little humor to cajole the swarthy, sarcastic, and unsociable Spaniard.
The Ghost Breaker|Charles Goddard

British Dictionary definitions for cajole

cajole

/ (kəˈdʒəʊl) /

verb

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

Derived forms of cajole

cajolement, nouncajoler, nouncajolery, nouncajolingly, adverb

Word Origin for cajole

C17: from French cajoler to coax, of uncertain origin

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

cajole

Origin of cajole

OTHER WORDS FROM cajole

Words nearby cajole

Words related to cajole

How to use cajole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cajole

Derived forms of cajole

Word Origin for cajole