cajole

[kuh-johl]

See more synonyms for cajole on Thesaurus.com

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

to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for cajole

wheedle, entice, seduce, tantalize, dupe, deceive, tempt, entrap, delude, crowd, urge, influence, soften, beguile, decoy, snow, jolly, blandish, soap, maneuver

Examples from the Web for cajole

Contemporary Examples of cajole

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
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
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
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
And less than a day after this debacle, Earley is again seen trying to cajole a top player into action on a sketchy court.
The U.S. Open’s Watergate
Allen St. John
September 9, 2011

Historical Examples of cajole

Her voice was that with which one seeks to cajole a terrified infant.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
It takes something more than words to cajole them to do our will, to cover us with glory.
The Mirror of the Sea
Joseph Conrad
It was as if they were all leagued in a conspiracy to deceive and cajole.
The Tyranny of the Dark
Hamlin Garland
How he managed to cajole the publishers in the beginning he does not tell us.
Confessions of a Book-Lover
Maurice Francis Egan
She tried to argue, to cajole, and to appear defiant, but all was useless.
The Golden Face
William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for cajole

cajole

verb

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

Derived Formscajolement, 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

Word Origin and History for cajole

1640s, from French cajoler "to cajole, wheedle, coax," perhaps a blend of Middle French cageoler "to chatter like a jay" (16c., from gajole, southern diminutive of geai "jay;" see jay (n.)), and Old French gaioler "to cage, entice into a cage" (see jail (n.)). Related: Cajoled; cajoling.